Elevation‐induced climate change as a dominant factor causing the late Miocene C4 plant expansion in the Himalayan foreland. (8th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Haibin; Guo, Zhengtang; Guiot, Joël; Hatté, Christine; Peng, Changhui; Yu, Yanyan; Ge, Junyi; Li, Qin; Sun, Aizhi; Zhao, Deai
• Is Part Of: Global change biology. Volume 20:Number 5(2014:May)
• Page Start: 1461
• Page End: 1472
• Publication Date: 2014-04-08
• Subjects: Climatic changes -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Troposphere -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Biodiversity conservation -- Periodicals; Eutrophication -- Periodicals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12426
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1354-1013

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="gcb12426-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>During the late Miocene, a dramatic global expansion of C₄ plant distribution occurred with broad spatial and temporal variations. Although the event is well documented, whether subsequent expansions were caused by a decreased atmospheric CO₂ concentration or climate change is a contentious issue. In this study, we used an improved inverse vegetation modeling approach that accounts for the physiological responses of C₃ and C₄ plants to quantitatively reconstruct the paleoclimate in the Siwalik of Nepal based on pollen and carbon isotope data. We also studied the sensitivity of the C₃ and C₄ plants to changes in the climate and the atmospheric CO₂ concentration. We suggest that the expansion of the C₄ plant distribution during the late Miocene may have been primarily triggered by regional aridification and temperature increases. The expansion was unlikely caused by reduced CO₂ levels alone. Our findings suggest that this abrupt ecological shift mainly resulted from climate changes related to the decreased elevation of the Himalayan foreland.</p> </abstract>