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Aerobic respiration in the Archaean?
1Department of Paleobiolgoy, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA.
Nature
|November 1, 1990
Summary
Early Earth
Area of Science:
- Geochemistry
- Atmospheric Science
- Paleontology
Background:
- The Archaean atmosphere (3,800-2,500 million years ago) is widely believed to have been anoxic.
- Oxygen sinks like dissolved iron (Fe(II)) oxidation and methane oxidation were insufficient to maintain anoxia.
- Low estimates of Archaean primary productivity challenge existing models of atmospheric oxygen regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the plausibility of early aerobic respiration in the Archaean Eon.
- To propose an alternative mechanism for regulating atmospheric oxygen levels before the Proterozoic.
Main Methods:
- Re-evaluation of oxygen sinks based on preserved organic carbon in Archaean rocks.
- Modeling of iron and methane oxidation requirements for maintaining anoxia.
- Hypothesizing the early development of aerobic respiration.
Main Results:
- Maintaining anoxia would necessitate unrealistically high iron sedimentation or methane oxidation.
- Even minimal primary productivity suggests insufficient sinks for oxygen buildup.
- The study suggests a stable, low oxygen atmosphere (0.2-0.4%) is required.
Conclusions:
- Aerobic respiration likely evolved early in the Archaean.
- Early aerobic respiration prevented excessive atmospheric oxygen accumulation.
- This challenges the traditional view of a strictly anoxic Archaean atmosphere.
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