Late Proterozoic rise in atmospheric oxygen concentration inferred from phylogenetic and sulphur-isotope studies
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:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- July 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1038/382127a0
- Bibcode:
- 1996Natur.382..127C