Rise in Phosphorus Levels Linked to Biodiversity Boost

According to a new scientific study, it would appear that increases in the amounts of phosphorus contained in marine deposits can be linked to a significant growth in the number of species present in the sea many millions of years ago.

Evolutionary biologists agree that oxygenation events, which took place each time plants started taking over the world, are responsible for most of today's complex and diverse life.

But researchers say that the role phosphorus played in boosting early biodiversity is oftentimes ignored or omitted. They add that the chemical may have had a huge role to play in the development of life as we know it.