Biomineralization and global change: A new perspective for understanding the end-Permian extinction

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 2017 Biomineralization and global change: A new perspective for understanding the end-Permian extinction Claudio Garbelli; Claudio Garbelli 1State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 39 East Beijing Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China2Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Milano, Via Mangiagalli 34, 20133 Milan, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lucia Angiolini; Lucia Angiolini 2Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Milano, Via Mangiagalli 34, 20133 Milan, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Shu-zhong Shen Shu-zhong Shen 1State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 39 East Beijing Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Claudio Garbelli 1State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 39 East Beijing Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China2Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Milano, Via Mangiagalli 34, 20133 Milan, Italy Lucia Angiolini 2Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Milano, Via Mangiagalli 34, 20133 Milan, Italy Shu-zhong Shen 1State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 39 East Beijing Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 01 Aug 2016 Revision Received: 06 Oct 2016 Accepted: 06 Oct 2016 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online Issn: 1943-2682 Print Issn: 0091-7613 © 2016 Geological Society of America Geology (2017) 45 (1): 19–22. https://doi.org/10.1130/G38430.1 Article history Received: 01 Aug 2016 Revision Received: 06 Oct 2016 Accepted: 06 Oct 2016 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Claudio Garbelli, Lucia Angiolini, Shu-zhong Shen; Biomineralization and global change: A new perspective for understanding the end-Permian extinction. Geology 2017;; 45 (1): 19–22. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G38430.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We investigated the kill mechanisms of the end-Permian mass extinction by analyzing patterns in biomineralization of marine invertebrates. The microstructures of Upper Permian brachiopod organocarbonate shells show the demise of the production of fabrics with a columnar layer—which has less organic matrix—in favor of more organic-rich shells at the end of Permian. Also, in the 100–120 k.y. interval prior to the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB), the Rhynchonellata had small calcite structural units (fibers) and thus a higher shell organic content, whereas the Strophomenata were not able to produce smaller units. This suggests that the two classes had a different capacity to cope with environmental change, with the Rhynchonellata being more able to buffer against pH changes and surviving the PTB, whereas the Strophomenata became extinct. The observed trends in biomineralization are similar to the patterns in extant marine invertebrates exposed to increasing pCO2 and decreasing pH, indicating that ocean acidification could have been one of the kill mechanisms of the mass extinction at the PTB. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.