Oldest evidence of abundant C4 grasses and habitat heterogeneity in eastern Africa

Daniel J. Peppe; Susanne M. Cote; Alan L. Deino; David L. Fox; John D. Kingston; Rahab N. Kinyanjui; William E. Lukens; Laura M. MacLatchy; Alice Novello; Caroline A.E. Strömberg; Steven G. Driese; Nicole D. Garrett; Kayla R. Hillis; Bonnie F. Jacobs; Kirsten E.H. Jenkins; Robert M. Kityo; Thomas Lehmann; Fredrick K. Manthi; Emma N. Mbua; Lauren A. Michel; Ellen R. Miller; Amon A.T. Mugume; Samuel N. Muteti; Isaiah O. Nengo; Kennedy O. Oginga; Samuel R. Phelps; Pratigya Polissar; James B. Rossie; Nancy J. Stevens; Kevin T. Uno; Kieran P McNulty

doi:10.1126/science.abq2834

Oldest evidence of abundant C₄ grasses and habitat heterogeneity in eastern Africa

Daniel J. Peppe, Susanne M. Cote, Alan L. Deino, David L. Fox, John D. Kingston, Rahab N. Kinyanjui, William E. Lukens, Laura M. MacLatchy, Alice Novello, Caroline A.E. Strömberg, Steven G. Driese, Nicole D. Garrett, Kayla R. Hillis, Bonnie F. Jacobs, Kirsten E.H. Jenkins, Robert M. Kityo, Thomas Lehmann, Fredrick K. Manthi, Emma N. Mbua, Lauren A. MichelEllen R. Miller, Amon A.T. Mugume, Samuel N. Muteti, Isaiah O. Nengo, Kennedy O. Oginga, Samuel R. Phelps, Pratigya Polissar, James B. Rossie, Nancy J. Stevens, Kevin T. Uno, Kieran P McNulty

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The assembly of Africa’s iconic C₄ grassland ecosystems is central to evolutionary interpretations of many mammal lineages, including hominins. C₄ grasses are thought to have become ecologically dominant in Africa only after 10 million years ago (Ma). However, paleobotanical records older than 10 Ma are sparse, limiting assessment of the timing and nature of C₄ biomass expansion. This study uses a multiproxy design to document vegetation structure from nine Early Miocene mammal site complexes across eastern Africa. Results demonstrate that between ~21 and 16 Ma, C₄ grasses were locally abundant, contributing to heterogeneous habitats ranging from forests to wooded grasslands. These data push back the oldest evidence of C₄ grass–dominated habitats in Africa—and globally—by more than 10 million years, calling for revised paleoecological interpretations of mammalian evolution.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	173-177
Number of pages	5
Journal	Science
Volume	380
Issue number	6641
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abq2834
State	Published - Apr 14 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was funded by National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241807 (K.P.M. and D.L.F.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 0852609 (K.P.M.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241811 (L.M.M.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241812 (D.J.P. and S.G.D.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241817 (J.B.R.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241918 (A.L.D.), National Science Foundation grant EAR 1253713 (C.A.E.S.), National Science Foundation grant EAR 1053549 (B.F.J.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1638796 (N.J.S.), National Science Foundation grant DGE 16-44869 (S.R.P.), Leakey Foundation grant (K.P.M.), Leakey Foundation grant (N.D.G.), Leakey Foundation grant (K.E.H.J.), Leakey Foundation grant (D.J.P. and K.P.M.), Leakey Foundation grant (L.A.M.), Leakey Foundation grant (E.R.M. and I.O.N.), Leakey Foundation Baldwin Fellowship (K.O.O.), McKnight Land-Grant Fellowship (K.P.M.), National Geographic Society grant (E.R.M. and I.O.N.), Wenner-Gren Foundation Workshop grant (S.M.C., K.P.M., L.M.M., and F.K.M.), Leverhulme Trust Fellowship (K.P.M.), EU Horizon 2020 for Research and Innovation MSCA IOF#659596 (A.N.), Karl und Marie Schack-Stiftung fund (T.L.), Vereinigung von Freunden und Förderern der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt (T.L.), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (S.M.C.), Tennessee Tech University URECA Program (L.A.M.), Tennessee Tech University Department of Earth Sciences (L.A.M.), Center for Climate and Life, Columbia University (K.T.U.), and Vetlesen Foundation (K.T.U.).

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Copyright © 2023 The Authors, some rights reserved.

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10.1126/science.abq2834

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Peppe, D. J., Cote, S. M., Deino, A. L., Fox, D. L., Kingston, J. D., Kinyanjui, R. N., Lukens, W. E., MacLatchy, L. M., Novello, A., Strömberg, C. A. E., Driese, S. G., Garrett, N. D., Hillis, K. R., Jacobs, B. F., Jenkins, K. E. H., Kityo, R. M., Lehmann, T., Manthi, F. K., Mbua, E. N., ... McNulty, K. P. (2023). Oldest evidence of abundant C₄ grasses and habitat heterogeneity in eastern Africa. Science, 380(6641), 173-177. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abq2834

Peppe, DJ, Cote, SM, Deino, AL, Fox, DL, Kingston, JD, Kinyanjui, RN, Lukens, WE, MacLatchy, LM, Novello, A, Strömberg, CAE, Driese, SG, Garrett, ND, Hillis, KR, Jacobs, BF, Jenkins, KEH, Kityo, RM, Lehmann, T, Manthi, FK, Mbua, EN, Michel, LA, Miller, ER, Mugume, AAT, Muteti, SN, Nengo, IO, Oginga, KO, Phelps, SR, Polissar, P, Rossie, JB, Stevens, NJ, Uno, KT & McNulty, KP 2023, 'Oldest evidence of abundant C₄ grasses and habitat heterogeneity in eastern Africa', Science, vol. 380, no. 6641, pp. 173-177. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abq2834

@article{a5e89596fe954af4919db3b9aeabfc0a,

title = "Oldest evidence of abundant C4 grasses and habitat heterogeneity in eastern Africa",

abstract = "The assembly of Africa{\textquoteright}s iconic C4 grassland ecosystems is central to evolutionary interpretations of many mammal lineages, including hominins. C4 grasses are thought to have become ecologically dominant in Africa only after 10 million years ago (Ma). However, paleobotanical records older than 10 Ma are sparse, limiting assessment of the timing and nature of C4 biomass expansion. This study uses a multiproxy design to document vegetation structure from nine Early Miocene mammal site complexes across eastern Africa. Results demonstrate that between ~21 and 16 Ma, C4 grasses were locally abundant, contributing to heterogeneous habitats ranging from forests to wooded grasslands. These data push back the oldest evidence of C4 grass–dominated habitats in Africa—and globally—by more than 10 million years, calling for revised paleoecological interpretations of mammalian evolution.",

author = "Peppe, {Daniel J.} and Cote, {Susanne M.} and Deino, {Alan L.} and Fox, {David L.} and Kingston, {John D.} and Kinyanjui, {Rahab N.} and Lukens, {William E.} and MacLatchy, {Laura M.} and Alice Novello and Str{\"o}mberg, {Caroline A.E.} and Driese, {Steven G.} and Garrett, {Nicole D.} and Hillis, {Kayla R.} and Jacobs, {Bonnie F.} and Jenkins, {Kirsten E.H.} and Kityo, {Robert M.} and Thomas Lehmann and Manthi, {Fredrick K.} and Mbua, {Emma N.} and Michel, {Lauren A.} and Miller, {Ellen R.} and Mugume, {Amon A.T.} and Muteti, {Samuel N.} and Nengo, {Isaiah O.} and Oginga, {Kennedy O.} and Phelps, {Samuel R.} and Pratigya Polissar and Rossie, {James B.} and Stevens, {Nancy J.} and Uno, {Kevin T.} and McNulty, {Kieran P}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was funded by National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241807 (K.P.M. and D.L.F.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 0852609 (K.P.M.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241811 (L.M.M.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241812 (D.J.P. and S.G.D.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241817 (J.B.R.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241918 (A.L.D.), National Science Foundation grant EAR 1253713 (C.A.E.S.), National Science Foundation grant EAR 1053549 (B.F.J.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1638796 (N.J.S.), National Science Foundation grant DGE 16-44869 (S.R.P.), Leakey Foundation grant (K.P.M.), Leakey Foundation grant (N.D.G.), Leakey Foundation grant (K.E.H.J.), Leakey Foundation grant (D.J.P. and K.P.M.), Leakey Foundation grant (L.A.M.), Leakey Foundation grant (E.R.M. and I.O.N.), Leakey Foundation Baldwin Fellowship (K.O.O.), McKnight Land-Grant Fellowship (K.P.M.), National Geographic Society grant (E.R.M. and I.O.N.), Wenner-Gren Foundation Workshop grant (S.M.C., K.P.M., L.M.M., and F.K.M.), Leverhulme Trust Fellowship (K.P.M.), EU Horizon 2020 for Research and Innovation MSCA IOF#659596 (A.N.), Karl und Marie Schack-Stiftung fund (T.L.), Vereinigung von Freunden und F{\"o}rderern der Goethe-Universit{\"a}t Frankfurt (T.L.), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (S.M.C.), Tennessee Tech University URECA Program (L.A.M.), Tennessee Tech University Department of Earth Sciences (L.A.M.), Center for Climate and Life, Columbia University (K.T.U.), and Vetlesen Foundation (K.T.U.). Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors, some rights reserved.",

year = "2023",

month = apr,

day = "14",

doi = "10.1126/science.abq2834",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "380",

pages = "173--177",

journal = "Science",

issn = "0036-8075",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

number = "6641",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Oldest evidence of abundant C4 grasses and habitat heterogeneity in eastern Africa

AU - Peppe, Daniel J.

AU - Cote, Susanne M.

AU - Deino, Alan L.

AU - Fox, David L.

AU - Kingston, John D.

AU - Kinyanjui, Rahab N.

AU - Lukens, William E.

AU - MacLatchy, Laura M.

AU - Novello, Alice

AU - Strömberg, Caroline A.E.

AU - Driese, Steven G.

AU - Garrett, Nicole D.

AU - Hillis, Kayla R.

AU - Jacobs, Bonnie F.

AU - Jenkins, Kirsten E.H.

AU - Kityo, Robert M.

AU - Lehmann, Thomas

AU - Manthi, Fredrick K.

AU - Mbua, Emma N.

AU - Michel, Lauren A.

AU - Miller, Ellen R.

AU - Mugume, Amon A.T.

AU - Muteti, Samuel N.

AU - Nengo, Isaiah O.

AU - Oginga, Kennedy O.

AU - Phelps, Samuel R.

AU - Polissar, Pratigya

AU - Rossie, James B.

AU - Stevens, Nancy J.

AU - Uno, Kevin T.

AU - McNulty, Kieran P

N1 - Funding Information: This work was funded by National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241807 (K.P.M. and D.L.F.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 0852609 (K.P.M.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241811 (L.M.M.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241812 (D.J.P. and S.G.D.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241817 (J.B.R.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1241918 (A.L.D.), National Science Foundation grant EAR 1253713 (C.A.E.S.), National Science Foundation grant EAR 1053549 (B.F.J.), National Science Foundation grant BCS 1638796 (N.J.S.), National Science Foundation grant DGE 16-44869 (S.R.P.), Leakey Foundation grant (K.P.M.), Leakey Foundation grant (N.D.G.), Leakey Foundation grant (K.E.H.J.), Leakey Foundation grant (D.J.P. and K.P.M.), Leakey Foundation grant (L.A.M.), Leakey Foundation grant (E.R.M. and I.O.N.), Leakey Foundation Baldwin Fellowship (K.O.O.), McKnight Land-Grant Fellowship (K.P.M.), National Geographic Society grant (E.R.M. and I.O.N.), Wenner-Gren Foundation Workshop grant (S.M.C., K.P.M., L.M.M., and F.K.M.), Leverhulme Trust Fellowship (K.P.M.), EU Horizon 2020 for Research and Innovation MSCA IOF#659596 (A.N.), Karl und Marie Schack-Stiftung fund (T.L.), Vereinigung von Freunden und Förderern der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt (T.L.), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (S.M.C.), Tennessee Tech University URECA Program (L.A.M.), Tennessee Tech University Department of Earth Sciences (L.A.M.), Center for Climate and Life, Columbia University (K.T.U.), and Vetlesen Foundation (K.T.U.). Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2023 The Authors, some rights reserved.

PY - 2023/4/14

Y1 - 2023/4/14

N2 - The assembly of Africa’s iconic C4 grassland ecosystems is central to evolutionary interpretations of many mammal lineages, including hominins. C4 grasses are thought to have become ecologically dominant in Africa only after 10 million years ago (Ma). However, paleobotanical records older than 10 Ma are sparse, limiting assessment of the timing and nature of C4 biomass expansion. This study uses a multiproxy design to document vegetation structure from nine Early Miocene mammal site complexes across eastern Africa. Results demonstrate that between ~21 and 16 Ma, C4 grasses were locally abundant, contributing to heterogeneous habitats ranging from forests to wooded grasslands. These data push back the oldest evidence of C4 grass–dominated habitats in Africa—and globally—by more than 10 million years, calling for revised paleoecological interpretations of mammalian evolution.

AB - The assembly of Africa’s iconic C4 grassland ecosystems is central to evolutionary interpretations of many mammal lineages, including hominins. C4 grasses are thought to have become ecologically dominant in Africa only after 10 million years ago (Ma). However, paleobotanical records older than 10 Ma are sparse, limiting assessment of the timing and nature of C4 biomass expansion. This study uses a multiproxy design to document vegetation structure from nine Early Miocene mammal site complexes across eastern Africa. Results demonstrate that between ~21 and 16 Ma, C4 grasses were locally abundant, contributing to heterogeneous habitats ranging from forests to wooded grasslands. These data push back the oldest evidence of C4 grass–dominated habitats in Africa—and globally—by more than 10 million years, calling for revised paleoecological interpretations of mammalian evolution.

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