Title |
Plant Ecological Strategies Shift Across the Cretaceous–Paleogene Boundary
|
---|---|
Published in |
PLoS Biology, September 2014
|
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001949 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Benjamin Blonder, Dana L. Royer, Kirk R. Johnson, Ian Miller, Brian J. Enquist |
Abstract |
The Chicxulub bolide impact caused the end-Cretaceous mass extinction of plants, but the associated selectivity and ecological effects are poorly known. Using a unique set of North Dakota leaf fossil assemblages spanning 2.2 Myr across the event, we show among angiosperms a reduction of ecological strategies and selection for fast-growth strategies consistent with a hypothesized recovery from an impact winter. Leaf mass per area (carbon investment) decreased in both mean and variance, while vein density (carbon assimilation rate) increased in mean, consistent with a shift towards "fast" growth strategies. Plant extinction from the bolide impact resulted in a shift in functional trait space that likely had broad consequences for ecosystem functioning. |
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Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
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