Large perturbations of the carbon cycle during recovery from the endPermian extinction

High-resolution carbon isotopemeasurements of multiple stratigraphic sections in south China demonstrate that the pronounced carbon isotopic excursion at the Permian-Triassic boundarywas not an isolated event but the first in a series of large fluctuations that continued throughout the Early Triassic before ending abruptly early in theMiddle Triassic. The unusual behavior of the carbon cycle coincideswith the delayed recovery from end-Permian extinction recorded by fossils, suggesting a direct relationship between Earth system function and biological rediversification in the aftermath of Earth’s most devastating mass extinction. The most severe extinction since the advent of animal life on Earth occurred at the end of the Permian Period, 251 million years ago (Ma) (1–3), with global loss of marine species estimated near 90 % (4, 5). Organ-isms with heavy calcification and limited elaboration of circulatory and respirator