Late Proterozoic rise in atmospheric oxygen concentration inferred from phylogenetic and sulphur-isotope studies

Nature. 1996 Jul 11;382(6587):127-32. doi: 10.1038/382127a0.

Abstract

The evolution of non-photosynthetic sulphide-oxidizing bacteria was contemporaneous with a large shift in the isotopic composition of biogenic sedimentary sulphides between 0.64 and 1.05 billion years ago. Both events were probably driven by a rise in atmospheric oxygen concentrations to greater than 5-18% of present levels--a change that may also have triggered the evolution of animals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atmosphere / chemistry*
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Earth, Planet
  • Evolution, Planetary*
  • Geologic Sediments / chemistry
  • Geologic Sediments / microbiology
  • Marine Biology
  • Mollusca
  • Oxygen / analysis*
  • Paleontology
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Sulfur / metabolism*
  • Symbiosis
  • Water Microbiology

Substances

  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Sulfur
  • Oxygen