Reconstructing phosphorus levels in the Proterozoic - Romain Guilbaud, CNRS, Toulouse, France

Reconstructing phosphorus levels in the Proterozoic
Romain Guilbaud
The National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Toulouse, France
The Proterozoic eon witnessed the emergence of eukaryotes and the protracted oxygenation of the Earth’s surface. In that regard, phosphorus, considered the limiting nutrient on geologic timescales, may have played a substantial role, as it links to the biogeochemical cycle of carbon and to the evolution of life. However, reconstructing its bioavailability through the Proterozoic is difficult, as it relies on limited evidence from the rock record, with no direct estimation of seawater phosphorus levels. I will review and discuss current debates and try to identify the main limitations of our understanding of the Proterozoic phosphorus cycle.