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

Canfield, D E; Teske, A · Nature · 1996

basic_science · Level V

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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.

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