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Atmospheric CO2 effect on stable carbon isotope composition of terrestrial fossil archives.

ABSTRACT: The 13C/12C ratio of C3 plant matter is thought to be controlled by the isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2 and stomatal response to environmental conditions, particularly mean annual precipitation (MAP). The effect of CO2 concentration on 13C/12C ratios is currently debated, yet crucial to reconstructing ancient environments and quantifying the carbon cycle. Here we compare high-resolution ice core measurements of atmospheric CO2 with fossil plant and faunal isotope records. We show the effect of pCO2 during the last deglaciation is stronger for gymnosperms (-1.4?±?1.2‰) than angiosperms/fauna (-0.5?±?1.5‰), while the contributions from changing MAP are -0.3?±?0.6‰ and -0.4?±?0.4‰, respectively. Previous studies have assumed that plant 13C/12C ratios are mostly determined by MAP, an assumption which is sometimes incorrect in geological time. Atmospheric effects must be taken into account when interpreting terrestrial stable carbon isotopes, with important implications for past environments and climates, and understanding plant responses to climate change.

SUBMITTER: Hare VJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5772509 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Atmospheric CO2 effect on stable carbon isotope composition of terrestrial fossil archives.

Hare Vincent J VJ Loftus Emma E Jeffrey Amy A Ramsey Christopher Bronk CB

Nature communications 20180117 1

The 13C/12C ratio of C3 plant matter is thought to be controlled by the isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2 and stomatal response to environmental conditions, particularly mean annual precipitation (MAP). The effect of CO2 concentration on 13C/12C ratios is currently debated, yet crucial to reconstructing ancient environments and quantifying the carbon cycle. Here we compare high-resolution ice core measurements of ...[more]

PMID: 29343713

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Dataset Information

Atmospheric CO2 effect on stable carbon isotope composition of terrestrial fossil archives.

Publications

Atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> effect on stable carbon isotope composition of terrestrial fossil archives.

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