Bolide impact triggered the Late Triassic extinction event in equatorial Panthalassa
Onoue, T.; Sato, H.; Yamashita, D.; Ikehara, M.; Yasukawa, K.; Fujinaga, K.; Kato, Y.; Matsuoka, A. (2016). Bolide impact triggered the Late Triassic extinction event in equatorial Panthalassa. NPG Scientific Reports 6(29609): 8 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep29609
In: Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2045-2322; e-ISSN 2045-2322, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Onoue, T.
- Sato, H.
- Yamashita, D.
- Ikehara, M.
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- Yasukawa, K.
- Fujinaga, K.
- Kato, Y.
- Matsuoka, A.
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| Abstract |
Extinctions within major pelagic groups (e.g., radiolarians and conodonts) occurred in a stepwise fashion during the last 15 Myr of the Triassic. Although a marked decline in the diversity of pelagic faunas began at the end of the middle Norian, the cause of the middle Norian extinction is uncertain. Here we show a possible link between the end-middle Norian radiolarian extinction and a bolide impact. Two palaeoenvironmental events occurred during the initial phase of the radiolarian extinction interval: (1) a post-impact shutdown of primary and biogenic silica production within a time span of 104-105 yr, and (2) a sustained reduction in the sinking flux of radiolarian silica for similar to 0.3 Myr after the impact. The catastrophic collapse of the pelagic ecosystem at this time was probably the dominant factor responsible for the end-middle Norian conodont extinction. |
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