C4 photosynthesis is one of the most convergent evolutionary phenomena in the biological
world, with at least 66 independent origins. Evidence from these lineages consistently …

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 …

Paleosols (fossil soils) are preserved throughout the geologic record in depositional settings
ranging from alluvial systems to between basalt flows. Until recently, paleosols were studied …

C4 photosynthesis is a series of anatomical and biochemical modifications that concentrate
CO2 around the carboxylating enzyme Rubisco, thereby increasing photosynthetic efficiency …

The evolution and subsequent ecological expansion of grasses (Poaceae) since the Late
Cretaceous have resulted in the establishment of one of Earth's dominant biomes, the …

The relation between the partial pressure of atmospheric carbon dioxide (p CO2) and
Paleogene climate is poorly resolved. We used stable carbon isotopic values of di …

A large stable isotope dataset from East and Central Africa from ca. 30 regional collection
sites that range from forest to grassland shows that most extant East and Central African …

The carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) of plant material is commonly used to reconstruct the
relative distribution of C3 and C4 plants in ancient ecosystems. However, such estimates …

The Miocene is characterized by a series of key climatic events that led to the founding of the
late Cenozoic icehouse mode and the dawn of modern biota. The processes that caused …

Savannas are a major terrestrial biome, comprising of grasses with the C4 photosynthetic
pathway and trees with the C3 type. This mixed grass–tree biome rapidly appeared on the …