Phosphorus ~ it aint all bad

[Donny@ageofaquariums]

The researchers say that during Earth’s most severe periods of glaciation, which occurred 750 to 580 million years ago, the planet was encircled with thick ice sheets.

“The key ingredient to the eventual oxidation of the oceans was found in the rubble of rock left behind when the glaciers receded,” said Lalonde. “We believe the glacial debris that washed into the oceans contained high concentrations of phosphorus.”

Phosphorus was essential to oxidation of the oceans, says Lalonde, because it sparked the growth of cyanobacteria, or blue-green-algae.

“The byproduct of blue-green-algae’s metabolic process is oxygen.”

“We’re not sure what the oxidation threshold level was,” says Konhauser, “but it finally reached a level favourable for animals to evolve.”

“[Our research] shows that phosphorus levels peaking between 750 and 635 million years ago at the very same time that complex life forms emerged,” said Lalonde. “That establishes our link between phosphorus and the evolution of animals.”

Phosphorus identified as the missing link in evolution of animals