Bioturbation feedbacks on the phosphorus cycle

Bioturbation—sediment mixing and ventilation by burrowing animals—provides one of the most prominent examples how animals shape their surroundings. A critical but longstanding question is when in Earth's history bioturbators began to similarly influence marine biogeochemistry. Recent work has proposed that even though development well-mixed sediments was a protracted process, initial rise led decrease phosphate levels, global productivity crises ultimately deoxygenation events early Cambrian oceans. Herein, using diagenetic model, we provide new view impact phosphorus cycle. Our focuses on incorporating more realistic representation bioturbation with complete mechanistic parameterization benthic cycling than previously been used explore Paleozoic. We find, contrast previous modeling studies, does not uniformly or unidirectionally mediate increased burial. Enhanced biodiffusion sedimentary particles can enhanced In contrast, bioirrigation—nonlocal transport solutes via burrows—enhances recycling may therefore stimulate rather stymy productivity. Given evidence from geologic record bioirrigation predominant during ramping up (through Paleozoic), emergence unlikely have driven events.