Journal Article

Origins of C₄ Grasslands: Integrating Evolutionary and Ecosystem Science

Strömberg, Caroline A.E, Smith, Stephen A, Edwards, Erika J, Osborne, Colin P

2010

Overview

The evolution of grasses using C₄ photosynthesis and their sudden rise to ecological dominance 3 to 8 million years ago is among the most dramatic examples of biome assembly in the geological record. A growing body of work suggests that the patterns and drivers of C₄ grassland expansion were considerably more complex than originally assumed. Previous research has benefited substantially from dialog between geologists and ecologists, but current research must now integrate fully with phylogenetics. A synthesis of grass evolutionary biology with grassland ecosystem science will further our knowledge of the evolution of traits that promote dominance in grassland systems and will provide a new context in which to evaluate the relative importance of C₄ photosynthesis in transforming ecosystems across large regions of Earth.

• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science,The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subject: Animal and plant ecology / Animal, plant and microbial ecology / Biological and medical sciences / Biological Evolution / C4 photosynthesis / Carbon Dioxide - metabolism / Climate / Ecological genetics / ecologists / Ecology / Ecosystem / Ecosystems / Evolution / Evolutionary biology / Fossils / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / Genetic Speciation / Geography / Geologists / Grasses / Grasslands / Photosynthesis / Phylogeny / Plant ecology / Plants / Poaceae - classification / Poaceae - genetics / Poaceae - growth & development / Poaceae - metabolism / REVIEW / Synecology / Temperature / Terrestrial ecosystems / Trees