Did early land plants produce a stepwise change in atmospheric oxygen during the Late Ordovician (Sandbian similar to 458 Ma)?

Y. Datu Adiatma; Matthew R. Saltzman; Seth A. Young; Elizabeth M. Griffith; Nevin P. Kozik; Cole T. Edwards; Stephen A. Leslie; Alyssa M. Bancroft

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109341

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Did early land plants produce a stepwise change in atmospheric oxygen during the Late Ordovician (Sandbian similar to 458 Ma)?

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Did early land plants produce a stepwise change in atmospheric oxygen during the Late Ordovician (Sandbian similar to 458 Ma)?

Y. Datu Adiatma, Matthew R. Saltzman, Seth A. Young, Elizabeth M. Griffith, Nevin P. Kozik, Cole T. Edwards, Stephen A. Leslie and Alyssa M. Bancroft

Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology, Vol.534, p.109341

11/15/2019

DOI: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109341

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Abstract

A stepwise change in atmospheric oxygen (O-) levels during the Ordovician has been attributed to the emer gence of land plants. This phenomenon is tied to a major baseline shift in the stable carbon isotope (delta C-13) cure and inferred increase in nutrient delivery and enhanced primary productivity in nearshore settings, which led t high organic carbon burial. The timing and magnitude of this baseline shift, however, is still elusive in par because of the lack of high-resolution delta C-13 data that span this period. Much of the existing Ordovician delta C-13 literature is focused on isotopic excursions with less emphasis on identifying long-term shifts in baseline (pre and post-excursion) values. This study presents new high resolution delta(13)data from stratigraphic sections at Germany Valley (Wes Virginia) and Union Furnace (Pennsylvania) in the Central Appalachian Basin. These sections span the entir Sandbian Stage and continue into the lower Katian Stage. The 8"C data from both sections are characterized b relative stability carbon isotope values (mean = -61 parts per thousand) in the lower Sandbian, followed by a + 1.2 parts per thousand shift ii the upper Sandbian (mean = + 0.62 parts per thousand). Herein, we propose that the positive shift represents a long-term globs shift in baseline delta C-13 values of dissolved inorganic carbon. The timing of this positive shift coinciding with th diversification of early land plants (i.e., bryophytes) supports earlier models that suggested enhanced organi carbon burial rates served as a mechanism for the stepwise oxygenation of the atmosphere during the Lat Ordovician.

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Title: Subtitle: Did early land plants produce a stepwise change in atmospheric oxygen during the Late Ordovician (Sandbian similar to 458 Ma)?
Creators: Y. Datu Adiatma - The Ohio State University
Matthew R. Saltzman - The Ohio State University
Seth A. Young - National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Elizabeth M. Griffith - The Ohio State University
Nevin P. Kozik - National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Cole T. Edwards - Appalachian State University
Stephen A. Leslie - James Madison University
Alyssa M. Bancroft - Indiana Geological and Water Survey
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology, Vol.534, p.109341
Publisher: Elsevier
DOI: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109341
ISSN: 0031-0182
eISSN: 1872-616X
Number of pages: 14
Grant note: Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) Friends of Orton Hall DMR-1644779 / National Science Foundation Cooperative Agreement; National Science Foundation (NSF) State of Florida
Language: English
Date published: 11/15/2019
Academic Unit: Earth and Environmental Sciences; Iowa Geological Survey; IIHR--Hydroscience and Engineering
Record Identifier: 9984701820702771

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