Biological extinction and photic-zone anoxia across the Triassic–Jurassic transition: insights from the Qiangtang Basin, eastern Tethys

Abstract

The end-Triassic mass extinction (ETME) is one of the five catastrophic extinction events. However, the driving mechanisms of biodiversity loss during this interval remain controversial. In this study, we investigate the marine sediment geochemistry and fauna across the Triassic–Jurassic boundary in the Wenquan section of Qiangtang Basin, and the triggering mechanism of the Late Triassic extinction in the eastern Tethys Ocean. Our study shows that the main pulse of the ETME occurred in Bed 8, manifesting as the disappearance of four brachiopod species, a significant decrease of other faunas, and the ‘Lilliput effect’ on bivalves. Analyses of pyrite framboids and redox-sensitive trace elements suggest the development of photic zone anoxia near the T/J boundary and coincident with the Late Triassic extinction. Thus, the development of abrupt and intense photic-zone anoxia could play an important role in the end-Triassic extinction. Supplementary material: Supplementary tables giving element contents and palaeontological data are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6771606