Abstract
Lipid biomarker abundances and δ 13C values were determined across the Permian–Triassic (P–Tr) boundary at Meishan of southern China. The δ 13C values of n-alkanes showed large (∼ 9‰) fluctuations, which suggest major episodic changes in oceanographic conditions during faunal mass extinctions. Environment-related biomarker ratios, including pristane to phytane ratios (Pr/Ph), gammacerane to C 31 homohopane ratios ( γ/C 31HP) and C 27 18α(H)-22,29,30-trinorneohopane to C 27 17α(H)-22,29,30-trinorhopane ratios (Ts/Tm), vary extensively throughout the section, with values typically associated with anoxic conditions coinciding with maximum δ 13C values. In particular, both faunal mass extinction horizons (beds 25 and 28) are characterised by biomarker ratios consistent with anoxic conditions and elevated n-alkane δ 13C values. The records of environment-related biomarkers and n-alkane δ 13C values clearly signify multiple environmental perturbations in association with faunal mass extinctions.
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