End-Permian marine extinction due to temperature-driven nutrient recycling and euxinia

Extreme warming at the end-Permian induced profound changes in marine biogeochemical cycling and animal habitability, leading to largest metazoan extinction Earth’s history. However, a causal mechanism for that is consistent with various proxy records of geochemical conditions through interval has yet be determined. Here we combine an Earth system model global local redox interpretations from Permian/Triassic attempt identify this mechanism. Our results show temperature-driven increase microbial respiration can reconcile reconstructions spatial distribution euxinia seafloor anoxia spanning Permian–Triassic transition. We illustrate how enhanced metabolic rates would have strengthened upper-ocean nutrient (phosphate) recycling, thus shoaled intensified oxygen minimum zones, eventually causing euxinic waters expand onto continental shelves poison benthic habitats. Taken together, our findings demonstrate sensitive interconnections between temperature, metabolism, ocean state carbon during mass extinction. As activity interior also lowers subsurface dissolved inorganic isotopic values, release as inferred isotope shallow carbonates likely overestimated, not only event, but perhaps many other cycle climate perturbations Warming-enhanced explain patterns across depth, key driver extinction, according modelling records.