Plate tectonic influences on Neoproterozoic–early Paleozoic climate and animal evolution

Research Article| February 01, 2014 Plate tectonic influences on Neoproterozoic–early Paleozoic climate and animal evolution N. Ryan McKenzie; N. Ryan McKenzie * 1Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA2Department of Earth Sciences, University of California–Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, USA *E-mail: rmckenzie@jsg.utexas.edu. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Nigel C. Hughes; Nigel C. Hughes 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of California–Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Benjamin C. Gill; Benjamin C. Gill 3Department of Geosciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Paul M. Myrow Paul M. Myrow 4Department of Geology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information N. Ryan McKenzie * 1Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA2Department of Earth Sciences, University of California–Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, USA Nigel C. Hughes 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of California–Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, USA Benjamin C. Gill 3Department of Geosciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA Paul M. Myrow 4Department of Geology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903, USA *E-mail: rmckenzie@jsg.utexas.edu. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 19 Jul 2013 Revision Received: 18 Oct 2013 Accepted: 22 Oct 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2014 Geological Society of America Geology (2014) 42 (2): 127–130. https://doi.org/10.1130/G34962.1 Article history Received: 19 Jul 2013 Revision Received: 18 Oct 2013 Accepted: 22 Oct 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation N. Ryan McKenzie, Nigel C. Hughes, Benjamin C. Gill, Paul M. Myrow; Plate tectonic influences on Neoproterozoic–early Paleozoic climate and animal evolution. Geology 2014;; 42 (2): 127–130. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G34962.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The initial diversification of animals paralleled some of the most dramatic episodes of climate and environmental change in Earth history. We compiled global Neoproterozoic–early Paleozoic detrital zircon age data to track spatiotemporal variations in continental arc systems to explore the influence of tectonic outgassing of CO2 on these climatic shifts. These data indicate that global continental arc systems were spatially reduced at the onset of the Cryogenian glacial interval, widespread during the Cambrian greenhouse, and reduced during Ordovician cooling. The Cambrian greenhouse was coincident with ecologically stressed conditions, whereas Ordovician global cooling was accompanied by a major biodiversification event. Thus, variation in the continental arc CO2 flux likely played a critical role in major climatic fluctuations, which profoundly influenced early animal evolution. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.