Tertiary history of C4 biomass in the Great Plains, USA

David L. Fox, Paul L. Koch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

189 Scopus citations

Abstract

We use the carbon isotope composition of paleosols to reconstruct the history of C4 biomass on the Great Plains from ca. 23 to 1 Ma. The proportion of C4 biomass was uniform and moderate (12%-34%) throughout the Miocene, increased between 6.4 and 4.0 Ma, and reached modern levels by 2.5 Ma. Ecological changes in Great Plains ungulates preceded the increase in C4 biomass. The contrasts in the paleosol and ungulate records may indicate initial development of C3 grasslands after the middle Miocene or a greater role for ecological interactions within communities in structuring ungulate faunas. Contrasts in paleosol records from different continents point to regional rather than global controls on the evolution Of C4 grasslands.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)809-812
Number of pages4
JournalGeology
Volume31
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2003

Keywords

  • C grasses
  • Carbon isotopes
  • Grasslands
  • Great Plains
  • Paleosol carbonate
  • Tertiary

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