Global vegetation change through the Miocene/Pliocene boundary
Nature, 1997•nature.com
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.
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.
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.
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