Nature Geosciences Study Unveils the Critical Role of Oceanic Deoxygenation in Major Marine Extinction Event
The mass extinction during the Triassic–Jurassic period has long puzzled scientists, and a recent study published in Nature Geosciences has uncovered some key insights into this critical event in Earth’s history. It turns out that oceanic anoxia, or deoxygenation, played a significant role in driving marine species to extinction.
The research, conducted by an international team of experts, reveals that localized deoxygenation in the ocean led to a widespread collapse of marine ecosystems during this pivotal period. What’s more, the study hints at the fragility of current marine environments in the face of a similar deoxygenation crisis, reflecting the ongoing challenge of maintaining a stable ecosystem in the earth’s oceans.
The team unearthed these groundbreaking findings by analyzing ancient mudstone deposits in Northern Ireland and Germany. The chemical data obtained from these samples provided clear evidence linking deoxygenation in shallow marine environments to increased extinction rates.
Professor Micha Ruhl, a key member of the research team from Trinity College Dublin, emphasized the importance of these findings, particularly for assessing present-day ecosystem stability. The study serves as a stark warning that marine deoxygenation is projected to significantly increase in response to global warming and increased nutrient run-off from continents, potentially posing a threat to marine life as we know it.
In unearthing an important chapter in Earth’s history, this study demonstrates the vital role of understanding past global change events in informing our approaches to conserving and protecting marine ecosystems for the future.
