Global vegetation change through the Miocene/Pliocene boundary

Thure E. Cerling; John M. Harris; Bruce J. MacFadden; Meave G. Leakey; Jay Quade; Vera Eisenmann; James R. Ehieringer

doi:10.1038/38229

Global vegetation change through the Miocene/Pliocene boundary

Thure E. Cerling, John M. Harris, Bruce J. MacFadden, Meave G. Leakey, Jay Quade, Vera Eisenmann, James R. Ehieringer

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

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Abstract

Between 8 and 6 million years ago, there was a global increase in the biomass of plants using C₄ photosynthesis as indicated by changes in the carbon isotope ratios of fossil tooth enamel in Asia, Africa, North America and South America. This abrupt and widespread increase in C₄ biomass may be related to a decrease in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations below a threshold that favoured C₃-photosynthesizing plants. The change occurred earlier at lower latitudes, as the threshold for C₃ photosynthesis is higher at warmer temperatures.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	153-158
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nature
Volume	389
Issue number	6647
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/38229
State	Published - 1997

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title = "Global vegetation change through the Miocene/Pliocene boundary",

abstract = "Between 8 and 6 million years ago, there was a global increase in the biomass of plants using C4 photosynthesis as indicated by changes in the carbon isotope ratios of fossil tooth enamel in Asia, Africa, North America and South America. This abrupt and widespread increase in C4 biomass may be related to a decrease in atmospheric CO2 concentrations below a threshold that favoured C3-photosynthesizing plants. The change occurred earlier at lower latitudes, as the threshold for C3 photosynthesis is higher at warmer temperatures.",

author = "Cerling, {Thure E.} and Harris, {John M.} and MacFadden, {Bruce J.} and Leakey, {Meave G.} and Jay Quade and Vera Eisenmann and Ehieringer, {James R.}",

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AU - Cerling, Thure E.

AU - Harris, John M.

AU - MacFadden, Bruce J.

AU - Leakey, Meave G.

AU - Quade, Jay

AU - Eisenmann, Vera

AU - Ehieringer, James R.

PY - 1997

Y1 - 1997

N2 - Between 8 and 6 million years ago, there was a global increase in the biomass of plants using C4 photosynthesis as indicated by changes in the carbon isotope ratios of fossil tooth enamel in Asia, Africa, North America and South America. This abrupt and widespread increase in C4 biomass may be related to a decrease in atmospheric CO2 concentrations below a threshold that favoured C3-photosynthesizing plants. The change occurred earlier at lower latitudes, as the threshold for C3 photosynthesis is higher at warmer temperatures.

AB - Between 8 and 6 million years ago, there was a global increase in the biomass of plants using C4 photosynthesis as indicated by changes in the carbon isotope ratios of fossil tooth enamel in Asia, Africa, North America and South America. This abrupt and widespread increase in C4 biomass may be related to a decrease in atmospheric CO2 concentrations below a threshold that favoured C3-photosynthesizing plants. The change occurred earlier at lower latitudes, as the threshold for C3 photosynthesis is higher at warmer temperatures.

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Global vegetation change through the Miocene/Pliocene boundary

Abstract

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