A ∼0.5 Myr perturbation of carbon and mercury cycles during the Middle Triassic biotic radiation
Cao Y, Chu D, Yin R, Song H, Dal Corso J, Ovtcharova M, Gianolla P, Grasby SE, Benton MJ, Dai X, Alverà G, Roghi G, Caggiati M, Schneider-Mor A, Korngreen D, Tong J (2026)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Journal
Book Volume: 12
Pages Range: eaee2291-
Journal Issue: 25
Abstract
The Anisian Stage (Middle Triassic) marks a pivotal interval for biotic recovery following the Permian-Triassic mass extinction, yet its environmental drivers remain poorly understood. This study presents carbon isotopes, mercury (Hg) concentrations, and Hg isotope data from Anisian (mainly Pelsonian substage) marine and terrestrial sections across the Tethys. Our results reveal a widespread Hg enrichment event that is synchronous with the Pelsonian negative carbon isotope excursion (PENCIE). Hg isotopic compositions support an origin from enhanced regional volcanism, coupled with contemporaneous terrestrial input. New high-precision zircon U-Pb ages (244.200 ± 0.037 Ma and 243.451 ± 0.049 Ma), integrated with chemostratigraphic and biostratigraphic data, constrain the duration of the PENCIE to ∼0.5 Myr. This interval coincided with major biodiversification, revealing that recovery occurred alongside environmental perturbations rather than in stable conditions as traditionally thought. These global disturbances in carbon and mercury cycles, linked to volcanism and terrestrial input, likely accelerated Middle Triassic biotic recovery.
Involved external institutions
University of Bristol
United Kingdom (GB)
China University of Geosciences / 中国地质大学
China (CN)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) / 中国科学院
China (CN)
University of Geneva / Université de Genève (UNIGE)
Switzerland (CH)
Università degli Studi di Ferrara
Italy (IT)
Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) / Commission géologique du Canada (CGC)
Canada (CA)
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) / National Research Council of Italy
Italy (IT)
University of Padua / Universita degli Studi di Padova
Italy (IT)
Geological Survey of Israel
Israel (IL)
United Kingdom (GB)
China University of Geosciences / 中国地质大学
China (CN)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) / 中国科学院
China (CN)
University of Geneva / Université de Genève (UNIGE)
Switzerland (CH)
Università degli Studi di Ferrara
Italy (IT)
Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) / Commission géologique du Canada (CGC)
Canada (CA)
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) / National Research Council of Italy
Italy (IT)
University of Padua / Universita degli Studi di Padova
Italy (IT)
Geological Survey of Israel
Israel (IL)
How to cite
APA:
Cao, Y., Chu, D., Yin, R., Song, H., Dal Corso, J., Ovtcharova, M.,... Tong, J. (2026). A ∼0.5 Myr perturbation of carbon and mercury cycles during the Middle Triassic biotic radiation. Science Advances, 12(25), eaee2291-. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aee2291
MLA:
Cao, Yiran, et al. "A ∼0.5 Myr perturbation of carbon and mercury cycles during the Middle Triassic biotic radiation." Science Advances 12.25 (2026): eaee2291-.
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