Tracking the rise of eukaryotes to ecological dominance with zinc isotopes

The biogeochemical cycling of zinc (Zn) is intimately coupled with organic carbon in the ocean. Based on an extensive new sedimentary Zn isotope record across Earth's history, we provide evidence for a fundamental shift in the marine Zn cycle ~800 million years ago. We discuss a wide range of p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geobiology 2018-07, Vol.16 (4), p.341-352
Main Authors: Isson, Terry T., Love, Gordon D., Dupont, Christopher L., Reinhard, Christopher T., Zumberge, Alex J., Asael, Dan, Gueguen, Bleuenn, McCrow, John, Gill, Ben C., Owens, Jeremy, Rainbird, Robert H., Rooney, Alan D., Zhao, Ming‐Yu, Stueeken, Eva E., Konhauser, Kurt O., John, Seth G., Lyons, Timothy W., Planavsky, Noah J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biogeochemistry
Biomarkers
carbon cycle
Earth
Earth history
Ecosystems
Environmental changes
Eukaryota
Eukaryotes
Fossils
Isotopes
Marine ecosystems
marine productivity
ocean chemistry
Organic carbon
Prokaryotes
Tracking
Zinc
Zinc isotopes
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Summary:The biogeochemical cycling of zinc (Zn) is intimately coupled with organic carbon in the ocean. Based on an extensive new sedimentary Zn isotope record across Earth's history, we provide evidence for a fundamental shift in the marine Zn cycle ~800 million years ago. We discuss a wide range of potential drivers for this transition and propose that, within available constraints, a restructuring of marine ecosystems is the most parsimonious explanation for this shift. Using a global isotope mass balance approach, we show that a change in the organic Zn/C ratio is required to account for observed Zn isotope trends through time. Given the higher affinity of eukaryotes for Zn relative to prokaryotes, we suggest that a shift toward a more eukaryote‐rich ecosystem could have provided a means of more efficiently sequestering organic‐derived Zn. Despite the much earlier appearance of eukaryotes in the microfossil record (~1700 to 1600 million years ago), our data suggest a delayed rise to ecological prominence during the Neoproterozoic, consistent with the currently accepted organic biomarker records.
ISSN:1472-4677
1472-4669
DOI:10.1111/gbi.12289