Global vegetation change through the Miocene/Pliocene boundary

Article

关键词: CARBON ISOTOPES;    FAUNAL CHANGE;    EAST-AFRICA;    CARBOXYLASE OXYGENASE;    CO2/O2 SPECIFICITY;    C-13/C-12 RATIOS;    NORTH-AMERICA;    SOUTH-AFRICA;    FOSSIL TEETH;    LATE MIOCENE;   

DOI  :  10.1038/38229

来源: SCIE

【 摘 要 】

Between 8 and 6 million years ago, there was a global increase in the biomass of plants using C-4 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 C-4 biomass may be related to a decrease in atmospheric CO2 concentrations below a threshold that favoured C-3-photosynthesizing plants. The change occurred earlier at lower latitudes, as the threshold for C-3 photosynthesis is higher at warmer temperatures.

【 授权许可】

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