Plant Ecological Strategies Shift Across the Cretaceous–Paleogene Boundary

Benjamin Blonder; Dana L. Royer; Kirk R. Johnson; Ian Miller; Brian J. Enquist

doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001949

Plant Ecological Strategies Shift Across the Cretaceous–Paleogene Boundary

Benjamin Blonder, Dana L. Royer, Kirk R. Johnson, Ian Miller, Brian J. Enquist

Arizona State University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

27 Scopus citations

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.

Original language	English (US)
Journal	PLoS biology
Volume	12
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001949
State	Published - 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Neuroscience(all)
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
Immunology and Microbiology(all)
Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)

Access to Document

10.1371/journal.pbio.1001949

Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Plant Ecological Strategies Shift Across the Cretaceous–Paleogene Boundary'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this

@article{0d0524beb2934c19b7ab1770fa6facb4,

title = "Plant Ecological Strategies Shift Across the Cretaceous–Paleogene Boundary",

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.",

author = "Benjamin Blonder and Royer, {Dana L.} and Johnson, {Kirk R.} and Ian Miller and Enquist, {Brian J.}",

year = "2014",

doi = "10.1371/journal.pbio.1001949",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "12",

journal = "PLoS Biology",

issn = "1544-9173",

publisher = "Public Library of Science",

number = "9",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Plant Ecological Strategies Shift Across the Cretaceous–Paleogene Boundary

AU - Blonder, Benjamin

AU - Royer, Dana L.

AU - Johnson, Kirk R.

AU - Miller, Ian

AU - Enquist, Brian J.

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84920452784&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84920452784&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001949

DO - 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001949

M3 - Article

C2 - 25225914

AN - SCOPUS:84920452784

VL - 12

JO - PLoS Biology

JF - PLoS Biology

SN - 1544-9173

IS - 9

ER -

Plant Ecological Strategies Shift Across the Cretaceous–Paleogene Boundary

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Cite this