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Science 23 July 2004:
Vol. 305. no. 5683, pp. 506 - 509
DOI: 10.1126/science.1097023
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Reports

Large Perturbations of the Carbon Cycle During Recovery from the End-Permian Extinction

Jonathan L. Payne,1* Daniel J. Lehrmann,2 Jiayong Wei,3 Michael J. Orchard,4 Daniel P. Schrag,1 Andrew H. Knoll1

High-resolution carbon isotope measurements of multiple stratigraphic sections in south China demonstrate that the pronounced carbon isotopic excursion at the Permian-Triassic boundary was not an isolated event but the first in a series of large fluctuations that continued throughout the Early Triassic before ending abruptly early in the Middle Triassic. The unusual behavior of the carbon cycle coincides with the delayed recovery from end-Permian extinction recorded by fossils, suggesting a direct relationship between Earth system function and biological rediversification in the aftermath of Earth's most devastating mass extinction.

1 Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
2 Department of Geology, University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, 800 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh, WI 54901, USA.
3 Guizhou Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Bagongli, Guiyang 550011, Guizhou, People's Republic of China.
4 Geological Survey of Canada, 101-605 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5J3, Canada.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jpayne{at}fas.harvard.edu

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