Appraising the roles of nutrient availability, global change, and functional traits during the angiosperm rise to dominance.
To explain the rise of angiosperms during the Cretaceous, Berendse & Scheffer (Ecol. Lett., 12, 2009, 865) invoke feedbacks between leaf litter, soil nutrients, and growth, overlooking other factors affecting resource acquisition by Cretaceous plants. We evaluate their hypothesis, highlight alternative explanations, and emphasize use of a broader framework for understanding the angiosperm radiation.
Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA. kevin.e.mueller@gmail.com
Kevin E
KE
Mueller
Aaron F
AF
Diefendorf
Katherine H
KH
Freeman
David M
DM
Eissenstat
D057231:Climate Change; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000502:physiology*