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Fossil evidence for low gas exchange capacities for Early Cretaceous angiosperm leaves
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 07:10 authored by Feild, TS, Upchurch, GR, Chatelet, DS, Timothy BrodribbTimothy Brodribb, Grubbs, KC, Samain, M, Wanke, SThe photosynthetic gas exchange capacities of early angiosperms remain enigmatic. Nevertheless, many hypotheses about the causes of early angiosperm success and how angiosperms influenced Mesozoic ecosystem function hinge on understanding the maximum capacity for early angiosperm metabolism. We applied structure-functional analyses of leaf veins and stomatal pore geometry to determine the hydraulic and diffusive gas exchange capacities of Early Cretaceous fossil leaves. All of the late Aptian–early Albian angiosperms measured possessed low vein density and low maximal stomatal pore area, indicating low leaf gas exchange capacities in comparison to modern ecologically dominant angiosperms. Gas exchange capacities for Early Cretaceous angiosperms were equivalent or lower than ferns and gymnosperms. Fossil leaf taxa from Aptian to Paleocene sediments previously identified as putative stem-lineages to Austrobaileyales and Chloranthales had the same gas exchange capacities and possibly leaf water relations of their living relatives. Our results provide fossil evidence for the hypothesis that high leaf gas exchange capacity is a derived feature of later angiosperm evolution. In addition, the leaf gas exchange functions of austrobaileyoid and chloranthoid fossils support the hypothesis that comparative research on the biology of living basal angiosperm lineages reveals genuine signals of Early Cretaceous angiosperm ecophysiology.
History
Publication title
PaleobiologyVolume
37Pagination
195-213ISSN
0094-8373Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Paleontological Soc IncPlace of publication
810 East 10Th St, Lawrence, USA, Ks, 66044Rights statement
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 2011Repository Status
- Restricted