The origins of C4 grasslands: integrating evolutionary and ecosystem science.
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 assembly in the geological record. A growing body of work suggests that the patterns and drivers of C4 grassland expansion were considerably more complex than originally assumed. Previous research has benefited substantially from dialog between geologists and ecologists, but current research must now integrate fully with phylogenetics. A synthesis of grass evolutionary biology with grassland ecosystem science will further our knowledge of the evolution of traits that promote dominance in grassland systems and will provide a new context in which to evaluate the relative importance of C4 photosynthesis in transforming ecosystems across large regions of Earth.
Edwards
Erika J
EJ
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. erika_edwards@brown.edu
Osborne
Colin P
CP
Strömberg
Caroline A E
CA
Smith
Stephen A
SA
Bond
William J
WJ
Christin
Pascal-Antoine
PA
Cousins
Asaph B
AB
Duvall
Melvin R
MR
Fox
David L
DL
Freckleton
Robert P
RP
Ghannoum
Oula
O
Hartwell
James
J
Huang
Yongsong
Y
Janis
Christine M
CM
Keeley
Jon E
JE
Kellogg
Elizabeth A
EA
Knapp
Alan K
AK
Leakey
Andrew D B
AD
Nelson
David M
DM
Saarela
Jeffery M
JM
Sage
Rowan F
RF
Sala
Osvaldo E
OE
Salamin
Nicolas
N
Still
Christopher J
CJ
Tipple
Brett
B
D005075:Biological Evolution; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002980:Climate; D017753:Ecosystem; D005580:Fossils; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D005843:Geography; D010788:Photosynthesis; D010802:Phylogeny; D006109:Poaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D014197:Trees
D002245:Carbon Dioxide