Pulses of ocean acidification at the Triassic–Jurassic boundary

Molly Trudgill (), James W. B. Rae, Ross Whiteford, Markus Adloff, Jessica Crumpton-Banks, Michael Mourik, Andrea Burke, Marieke Cuperus, Frank Corsetti, Daniel Doherty, William Gray, Rosanna Greenop, Wei-Li Hong, Aivo Lepland, Andrew McIntyre, Noor Neiroukh, Catherine V. Rose, Micha Ruhl, David Saunders, Magali M.F.R. Siri, Robert C. J. Steele, Eva E. Stüeken, A. Joshua West, Martin Ziegler and Sarah E. Greene
Additional contact information
Molly Trudgill: University of St Andrews
James W. B. Rae: University of St Andrews
Ross Whiteford: University of St Andrews
Markus Adloff: University of Bristol
Jessica Crumpton-Banks: University of St Andrews
Michael Mourik: University of St Andrews
Andrea Burke: University of St Andrews
Marieke Cuperus: Utrecht University
Frank Corsetti: University of Southern California
Daniel Doherty: University of Birmingham
William Gray: University of St Andrews
Rosanna Greenop: University of St Andrews
Wei-Li Hong: Geological Survey of Norway
Aivo Lepland: Geological Survey of Norway
Andrew McIntyre: University of St Andrews
Noor Neiroukh: University of St Andrews
Catherine V. Rose: University of St Andrews
Micha Ruhl: The University of Dublin
David Saunders: University of St Andrews
Magali M.F.R. Siri: Utrecht University
Robert C. J. Steele: University of St Andrews
Eva E. Stüeken: University of St Andrews
A. Joshua West: University of Southern California
Martin Ziegler: Utrecht University
Sarah E. Greene: University of Birmingham

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Mass extinctions have repeatedly perturbed the history of life, but their causes are often elusive. Ocean acidification has been implicated during Triassic–Jurassic environmental perturbations, but this interval lacks direct reconstructions of ocean pH. Here, we present boron isotope data from well-preserved fossil oysters, which provide evidence for acidification of ≥ 0.29 pH units coincident with a 2 ‰ negative carbon isotope excursion (the “main” CIE) following the end–Triassic extinction. These results suggest a prolonged interval of CO2-driven environmental perturbation that may have delayed ecosystem recovery. Earth system modelling with cGENIE paired with our pH constraints demonstrates this was driven by predominantly mantle-derived carbon. Ocean acidification therefore appears to be associated with three of the five largest extinction events in Earth history, highlighting the catastrophic ecological impact of major perturbations to the carbon cycle in Earth’s past, and possibly Earth’s anthropogenically perturbed future.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61344-6

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