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137051 - Links between environment and stomatal size through evolutionary time_OA.pdf (305.1 kB)

Links between environment and stomatal size through evolutionary time in Proteaceae

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posted on 2023-05-20, 10:16 authored by Gregory JordanGregory Jordan, Carpenter, RJ, Barbara HollandBarbara Holland, Nicholas Beeton, Woodhams, MD, Timothy BrodribbTimothy Brodribb

The size of plant stomata (adjustable pores that determine the uptake of CO2 and loss of water from leaves) is considered to be evolutionarily important. This study uses fossils from the major Southern Hemisphere family Proteaceae to test whether stomatal cell size responded to Cenozoic climate change. We measured the length and abundance of guard cells (the cells forming stomata), the area of epidermal pavement cells, stomatal index and maximum stomatal conductance from a comprehensive sample of fossil cuticles of Proteaceae, and extracted published estimates of past temperature and atmospheric CO2. We developed a novel test based on stochastic modelling of trait evolution to test correlations among traits. Guard cell length increased, and stomatal density decreased significantly with decreasing palaeotemperature. However, contrary to expectations, stomata tended to be smaller and more densely packed at higher atmospheric CO2. Thus, associations between stomatal traits and palaeoclimate over the last 70 million years in Proteaceae suggest that stomatal size is significantly affected by environmental factors other than atmospheric CO2. Guard cell length, pavement cell area, stomatal density and stomatal index covaried in ways consistent with coordinated development of leaf tissues.

Funding

Australian Research Council

History

Publication title

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences

Volume

287

Issue

1919

Article number

20192876

Number

20192876

Pagination

1-7

ISSN

0962-8452

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Royal Soc London

Place of publication

6 Carlton House Terrace, London, England, Sw1Y 5Ag

Rights statement

Copyright 2020 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

Repository Status

  • Open

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences; Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences

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