A5075472498- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Geological Studies and Exploration
- Plant and animal studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Geological formations and processes
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Geological and Geophysical Studies
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Tree-ring climate responses
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
- Groundwater and Watershed Analysis
- Image Processing and 3D Reconstruction
- Forest ecology and management
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
Southern Methodist University
2014-2025
New York University Press
2021
Columbia University
2021
The University of Texas at Austin
2006
University of South Alabama
2005
George Washington University
2000
Cornell University
1994-1996
Utrecht University
1994-1996
Karlsruhe University of Education
1996
University of California, Berkeley
1996
Leaf size varies by over a 100,000-fold among species worldwide. Although 19th-century plant geographers noted that the wet tropics harbor plants with exceptionally large leaves, latitudinal gradient of leaf has not been well quantified nor key climatic drivers convincingly identified. Here, we characterize worldwide patterns in size. Large-leaved predominate wet, hot, sunny environments; small-leaved typify environments only arid conditions; small leaves are also found high latitudes and...
Fossil plants provide data on climate, community composition and structure, all of which are relevant to the definition recognition biomes. Macrofossils reflect local vegetation, whereas pollen assemblages sample a larger area. The earliest solid evidence for angiosperm tropical rainforest in Africa is based primarily Late Eocene Oligocene (ca. 39-26 Myr ago) from Cameroon, rich forest families. Plant macrofossil elsewhere interior this time interval rare, but new work at Chilga northwestern...
Significance Melanin is a widespread pigment that provides black to reddish brown hues organisms. Recent evidence has shown melanin retained in exceptionally preserved fossils, including feathered dinosaurs, allowing the reconstruction of ancient color patterns. However, little known about chemical preservation or its distribution fossil record. Here, we show number soft-bodied but burial under high pressure and temperature for millions years alters original chemistry. The occurrence...
The assembly of Africa's iconic C4 grassland ecosystems is central to evolutionary interpretations many mammal lineages, including hominins. grasses are thought have become ecologically dominant in Africa only after 10 million years ago (Ma). However, paleobotanical records older than Ma sparse, limiting assessment the timing and nature biomass expansion. This study uses a multiproxy design document vegetation structure from nine Early Miocene site complexes across eastern Africa. Results...
The African palm fossil record is limited but the data provide an outline of evolution from Late Cretaceous through Neogene. Pollen attributed to palms reported Aptian (125–112 Mya), earliest unequivocal in Africa Campanian (83.5–70.6 Mya). Palms diversified 83.5–65.5 Mya and became widespread, although most records are west north coasts. Many taxa were shared between northern South America at that time, a few pantropical. Extirpations occurred throughout Palaeogene, including notable...
Abstract. Quaternary records provide an opportunity to examine the nature of vegetation and fire responses rapid past climate changes comparable in velocity magnitude those expected 21st-century. The best documented examples change are warming events associated with Dansgaard–Oeschger (D–O) cycles during last glacial period, which were sufficiently large have had a potential feedback through albedo greenhouse gas emissions on climate. Previous reconstructions D–O used independently...
Premise of research. The Cenozoic fossil record is crucial for understanding the evolution remarkably high diversity angiosperms. However, quality and biases angiosperm remain unclear mainly due to lack a global database.Methodology. We introduce new occurrence-based database macrofossils, Angiosperm Database. test temporal, spatial, phylogenetic macrofossil explore their causes.Pivotal results. data presented here include 2478 assemblages from all epochs 1961 sites continents, as well...
In the last decade, several statistical models have been proposed to quantify relationships among leaf morphological characters and climate parameters. The models, based on modern plants from varying geographic areas, derived using varied analyses, were intended for paleoclimatic reconstruction of fossil leaves. goal research presented here is evaluate these newly constructed in order estimate past tropical Africa Models found current most accurately African assemblages are used leaves at...
The combined morphological features of
Middle Eocene age caesalpinioid and mimosoid legume leaves are reported from the Mahenge site in north-central Tanzania. The flora complements a sparse Paleogene tropical African fossil plant record, which until now consisted of single macrobotanical assemblage, limited palynological studies West Africa Egypt, wood primarily poorly dated deposits. leaf macrofossils have potential to add significantly what is known evolutionary history extant groups expand our currently knowledge...
Until now, our knowledge of the Lower Cretaceous conifer Frenelopsis ramosissima was based exclusively on branches from a few sites in Potomac Group eastern Virginia and Maryland. Affinities with important Mesozoic family Cheirolepidiaceae have been assumed despite historical absence diagnostic attached or associated Classopollis‐producing pollen cones. This plant has reconstructed as small, stem‐succulent shrub that inhabited diverse, mesic communities. Here, we present reconsideration F....
Abstract Astropanax is a monophyletic genus found in the Africa–Madagascar–Seychelles region whose evolutionary and biogeographic history, that of related Araliaceae genera, are poorly known. In this paper, we report presence leaves pollen Ethiopia 21.73 million years ago from Mush Valley locality, which preserves leaf material with cuticles, fruits, seeds, woods, less common biota including insects. was part moist tropical forest community surrounding volcanic crater lake dominated by...