A shallow-water oxygen minimum zone in an oligotrophic Tonian basin
Abstract The Tonian Period (1000–720 Ma) bore witness to the transition from a prokaryote-dominated marine ecosystem to one characterized by the proliferation of eukaryotes. This fundamental shift has generally been attributed to evolving marine redox states. Here, we present sedimentological and ge...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55881-3 |
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| author | Yunpeng Sun Wei Wang Xianguo Lang Chengguo Guan Qing Ouyang Ke Pang Guangjin Li Yongliang Hu Hongyi Shi Xianye Zhao Chuanming Zhou |
| author_facet | Yunpeng Sun Wei Wang Xianguo Lang Chengguo Guan Qing Ouyang Ke Pang Guangjin Li Yongliang Hu Hongyi Shi Xianye Zhao Chuanming Zhou |
| author_sort | Yunpeng Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The Tonian Period (1000–720 Ma) bore witness to the transition from a prokaryote-dominated marine ecosystem to one characterized by the proliferation of eukaryotes. This fundamental shift has generally been attributed to evolving marine redox states. Here, we present sedimentological and geochemical analyses of the early Tonian Huainan, Feishui, and Huaibei groups in the Xuhuai basin of the North China craton. Multiple redox proxies show consistent, water depth-dependent variations across the Xuhuai basin. Excess barium contents and Ba/Al ratios further highlight spatial variations in primary productivity which ultimately regulate basinal redox structures. We propose that a shallow-water oxygen minimum zone sandwiched between the oxic/suboxic mid-depth and surface layer water masses occur in the oligotrophic Xuhuai basin, which is analogous to, but much shallower than modern oxygen minimum zones. Such marine redox architectures may benefit the maintenance of a bioavailable nitrate reservoir in the ocean, foreboding the subsequent expansion of eukaryotes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0acd76d46b9b46258ff0960d098be41e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-0acd76d46b9b46258ff0960d098be41e2025-01-19T12:30:48ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111010.1038/s41467-025-55881-3A shallow-water oxygen minimum zone in an oligotrophic Tonian basinYunpeng Sun0Wei Wang1Xianguo Lang2Chengguo Guan3Qing Ouyang4Ke Pang5Guangjin Li6Yongliang Hu7Hongyi Shi8Xianye Zhao9Chuanming Zhou10State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation & Institute of Sedimentary Geology, Chengdu University of TechnologyState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesArchaeology, Environmental Changes and Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit BrusselState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract The Tonian Period (1000–720 Ma) bore witness to the transition from a prokaryote-dominated marine ecosystem to one characterized by the proliferation of eukaryotes. This fundamental shift has generally been attributed to evolving marine redox states. Here, we present sedimentological and geochemical analyses of the early Tonian Huainan, Feishui, and Huaibei groups in the Xuhuai basin of the North China craton. Multiple redox proxies show consistent, water depth-dependent variations across the Xuhuai basin. Excess barium contents and Ba/Al ratios further highlight spatial variations in primary productivity which ultimately regulate basinal redox structures. We propose that a shallow-water oxygen minimum zone sandwiched between the oxic/suboxic mid-depth and surface layer water masses occur in the oligotrophic Xuhuai basin, which is analogous to, but much shallower than modern oxygen minimum zones. Such marine redox architectures may benefit the maintenance of a bioavailable nitrate reservoir in the ocean, foreboding the subsequent expansion of eukaryotes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55881-3 |
| spellingShingle | Yunpeng Sun Wei Wang Xianguo Lang Chengguo Guan Qing Ouyang Ke Pang Guangjin Li Yongliang Hu Hongyi Shi Xianye Zhao Chuanming Zhou A shallow-water oxygen minimum zone in an oligotrophic Tonian basin Nature Communications |
| title | A shallow-water oxygen minimum zone in an oligotrophic Tonian basin |
| title_full | A shallow-water oxygen minimum zone in an oligotrophic Tonian basin |
| title_fullStr | A shallow-water oxygen minimum zone in an oligotrophic Tonian basin |
| title_full_unstemmed | A shallow-water oxygen minimum zone in an oligotrophic Tonian basin |
| title_short | A shallow-water oxygen minimum zone in an oligotrophic Tonian basin |
| title_sort | shallow water oxygen minimum zone in an oligotrophic tonian basin |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55881-3 |
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