Scientists discover 36-million-year geological cycle that drives
biodiversity
Tectonic changes alter sea levels that can create breeding grounds for
life

Date:
July 10, 2023
Source:
University of Sydney
Summary:
Movement in the Earth's tectonic plates indirectly triggers bursts
of biodiversity in 36 million-year cycles by forcing sea levels
to rise and fall, new research has shown.


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FULL STORY ========================================================================== Movement in the Earth's tectonic plates indirectly triggers bursts of biodiversity in 36-million-year cycles by forcing sea levels to rise
and fall, new research has shown.

Researchers including geoscientists at the University of Sydney believe
these geologically driven cycles of sea level changes have a significant
impact on the diversity of marine species, going back at least 250
million years.

As water levels rise and fall, different habitats on the continental
shelves and in shallow seas expand and contract, providing opportunities
for organisms to thrive or die. By studying the fossil record, the
scientists have shown that these shifts trigger bursts of new life
to emerge.

The research has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, led by Associate Professor Slah Boulila from Sorbonne University in Paris.

Study co-author Professor Dietmar Mu"ller, from the School of
Geosciences at the University of Sydney, said: "In terms of tectonics,
the 36-million-year cycle marks alterations between faster and slower
seafloor spreading, leading to cyclical depth changes in ocean basins
and in the tectonic transfer of water into the deep Earth.

"These in turn have led to fluctuations in the flooding and drying up of continents, with periods of extensive shallow seas fostering biodiversity.

"This work was enabled by the GPlates plate tectonic software, developed
by the EarthByte Group at the University of Sydney, supported by
Australia's National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy
(NCRIS) via AuScope." The team based their findings on the discovery
of strikingly similar cycles in sea-level variations, Earth's interior mechanisms and marine fossil records.

Scientists now have overwhelming evidence that tectonic cycles and global
sea level change driven by Earth's dynamics have played a crucial role
in shaping the biodiversity of marine life over millions of years.

"This research challenges previous ideas about why species have changed
over long periods," Professor Mu"ller said.

"The cycles are 36 million years long because of regular patterns
in how tectonic plates are recycled into the convecting mantle, the
mobile part of the deep Earth, similar to hot, thick soup in a pot, that
moves slowly." Professor Mu"ller said the Cretaceous Winton Formation
in Queensland serves as a prime example of how sea-level changes have
shaped ecosystems and influenced biodiversity in Australia.

The formation, renowned for its collection of dinosaur fossils and
precious opal, provides a valuable window into a time when much of the Australian continent was flooded.

As sea levels rose and fell, the flooding of the continent created
expanding and contracting ecological recesses in shallow seas, providing
unique habitats for a wide range of species.

"The Cretaceous Winton Formation stands as a testament to the profound
impact of these sea-level changes, capturing a snapshot of a time when Australia's landscape was transformed and fascinating creatures roamed
the land," Professor Mu"ller said.

* RELATED_TOPICS
o Plants_&_Animals
# Marine_Biology # Fish # Nature
o Earth_&_Climate
# Earth_Science # Environmental_Awareness # Oceanography
o Fossils_&_Ruins
# Fossils # Origin_of_Life # Early_Climate
* RELATED_TERMS
o Geologic_temperature_record o Mid-ocean_ridge o Earth o
Geology_of_the_Himalaya o Volcano o Biodiversity o Earthquake
o Oceanic_trench

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Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Sydney. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Related Multimedia:
* Artist's_impression_of_Diluvicursor_pickeringi_during_the_early
Cretaceous ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Slah Boulila, Shanan E. Peters, R. Dietmar Mu"ller, Bilal U. Haq,
Nathan
Hara. Earth's interior dynamics drive marine fossil diversity
cycles of tens of millions of years. Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, 2023; 120 (29) DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221149120 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230710180454.htm

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