Large Perturbations of the Carbon Cycle During Recovery from the End-Permian Extinction

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1097023
• Publication Date: 2004-07-22T20:38:37Z
• Authors: Jonathan L. Payne; Daniel J. Lehrmann; Jiayong Wei; Michael J. Orchard; Daniel P. Schrag; Andrew H. Knoll
• Keywords: Permian–Triassic extinction event; Extinction (optical mineralogy); Early Triassic; Carbon fibers

High-resolution carbon isotope measurements of multiple stratigraphic sections in south China demonstrate that the pronounced isotopic excursion at Permian-Triassic boundary was not an isolated event but first a series large fluctuations continued throughout Early Triassic before ending abruptly early Middle Triassic. The unusual behavior cycle coincides with delayed recovery from end-Permian extinction recorded by fossils, suggesting direct relationship between Earth system function and biological rediversification aftermath Earth's most devastating mass extinction.