title: Climate, decay, and the death of the coal forests.
abstract: After death, most of the biological carbon in organisms (Corg) is returned to the atmosphere as CO2 through the respiration of decomposers and detritivores or by combustion. However, the balance between these processes is not perfect, and when productivity exceeds decomposition, carbon sequestration results. An unparalleled interval of carbon sequestration in Earth's history occurred during the Late Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) and Permian Periods (ca. 323-252 Ma), when arborescent vascular plants related to living club mosses (Lycophytes), ferns (Monilophytes), horsetails (Equisetophytes) and seed plants (Spermatophytes) formed extensive forests in coastal wetlands. On their death, these plants became buried in sediments, where they transformed into peat, lignite, and, finally, coal.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Clark University, Worcester, MA 01610, USA. Electronic address: dhibbett@clarku.edu.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hibbett
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN 55108, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blanchette
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kenrick
authors.affiliation: School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D057965:Carbon Sequestration; D002980:Climate; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis*; D065928:Forests; D010944:Plants; D012987:Soil; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D003031:Coal; D012987:Soil; D002245:Carbon Dioxide