Tertiary history of C4 biomass in the Great Plains, USA

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 2003 Tertiary history of C4 biomass in the Great Plains, USA David L. Fox; David L. Fox 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA, and Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Paul L. Koch Paul L. Koch 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2003) 31 (9): 809–812. https://doi.org/10.1130/G19580.1 Article history received: 17 Feb 2003 rev-recd: 15 May 2003 accepted: 25 May 2003 first online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation David L. Fox, Paul L. Koch; Tertiary history of C4 biomass in the Great Plains, USA. Geology 2003;; 31 (9): 809–812. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G19580.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search 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. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.