The evolution of the marine phosphate reservoir

Noah J. Planavsky, Olivier J. Rouxel, Andrey Bekker, Stefan V. Lalonde, Kurt O. Konhauser, Christopher T. Reinhard and Timothy W. Lyons ()
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Noah J. Planavsky: University of California
Olivier J. Rouxel: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Andrey Bekker: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
Stefan V. Lalonde: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
Kurt O. Konhauser: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
Christopher T. Reinhard: University of California
Timothy W. Lyons: University of California

Nature, 2010, vol. 467, issue 7319, 1088-1090

Abstract: Geological history of marine phosphate Phosphorus is generally thought to be a limiting nutrient of primary productivity in the oceans, and is important in regulating the redox state of the ocean–atmosphere system. Planavsky et al. use the ratio of phosphorus to iron in iron-oxide-rich sedimentary rocks through time to evaluate the evolution of the marine phosphate reservoir. They find relatively constant phosphate concentrations during the past 542 million years of Earth's history. The data are also indicative of high dissolved phosphate concentrations in the aftermath of the 'snowball Earth' glaciations around 700 million years ago, which could have led to high rates of primary productivity, organic carbon burial and an increase in atmospheric oxygen levels, paving the way for the rise of metazoan life.

Date: 2010
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DOI: 10.1038/nature09485

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