Eukaryotes expansion into non-marine habitats prohibited by nitrogen limitation during the mid-Proterozoic.

ABSTRACT: Persistently anoxic conditions and nutrient limitations in the mid-Proterozoic have been invoked to explain the delayed evolution and expansion of eukaryotes. However, limited information is so far available about nutrient availability in nonmarine habitats. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted a multi-proxy study of Statherian strata from the Dagushi, Bingmagou, Baicaoping, and Puyu formations in the Xiong'er Basin, southern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). This set of rocks offers a rare opportunity to study nutrient availability along a gradient from nonmarine to marine conditions in the mid-Proterozoic. Our δ¹⁵N data suggest that nitrogen cycling was dominated by N₂ fixation under nonmarine conditions. Hence, lacustrine waters were oligotrophic with reg

SUBMITTER: Ma Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12303009 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature