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The Soda Ocean Concept and Its Bearing on Biotic Evolution

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Origin, Evolution, and Modern Aspects of Biomineralization in Plants and Animals

Abstract

The soda ocean hypothesis (Kempe & Degens, 1985) suggests an early alkaline ocean of high pH and low calcium and magnesium concentrations. The dissolved carbonates were gradually lost during the Precambrian, leaving the present sodium chloride ocean. The Precambrian paleontological record and the calcium physiology of living cells implicate that the stepwisebuildup of calcium in the ancient ocean was of primary importance for the generation of multicellular life and the onset of biocalcification.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SCOPE/UNEP International Carbon Unit, Geological-Paleontological Institute, University of Hamburg, Bundesstrasse, 55D-2000, Hamburg 13, Federal Republic of Germany

    Stephan Kempe & Egon T. Degens

  2. Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Science, Zwirki i Wigury 93, PL-02089, Warszawa, Poland

    Józef Kazmierczak

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  1. Stephan Kempe
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  2. Józef Kazmierczak
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  3. Egon T. Degens
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  1. The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA

    Rex E. Crick

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Kempe, S., Kazmierczak, J., Degens, E.T. (1989). The Soda Ocean Concept and Its Bearing on Biotic Evolution. In: Crick, R.E. (eds) Origin, Evolution, and Modern Aspects of Biomineralization in Plants and Animals. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-6114-6_3

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