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Liddy et al. 2018

Liddy, H.M., S.J. Feakins, F.A. Corsetti, R. Sage, N. Dengler, D.P. Whistler, G.T. Takeuchi, M. Faull, and X. Wang, 2018: Photosynthetic pathway of grass fossils from the upper Miocene Dove Spring Formation, Mojave Desert, California. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., 490, 131-140, doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2017.10.019.

The spread of grasslands in the Miocene and of C₄ grasses in the late Miocene-Pliocene represents a major development in terrestrial plant evolution that affected the climate system and faunal evolution. The macrofossil record of grasses is sparse, likely due to the limited preservation potential of grasses. Diagnosis of the C₃ or C₄ photosynthetic pathway depends on preservation of both cellular structures and organic carbon for isotope analysis. Here we analyze the anatomical and isotopic composition of newly-collected grass fossils from the Dove Spring Formation, Red Rock Canyon State Park, California, USA, located in the El Paso Basin on the western side of the Basin and Range Province, a site previously identified as one of the earliest known C₄ grass fossil bearing localities. We analyzed the anatomical and geochemical characteristics of these new grass fossils dated to 12.01-12.15 Ma. The fossils analyzed in this study include grass shoots and in cross-section display anatomy indicative of the C₃ photosynthetic pathway. We isolated organic carbon from the stem fossils and determined the carbon isotopic composition to be -24.8±0.5‰. Together, the anatomical and geochemical analyses confirm that these plants used the C₃ photosynthetic pathway. Our findings are consistent with dietary evidence based on tooth enamel from grazing mammals of available C₃ resources in the same sections. These newly reported Miocene-age C₃ grass fossils contribute to a sparse macrofossil record of grass evolution. Overall, paleoecological reconstructions at this site indicate more humid conditions during the Miocene compared to the modern Mojave Desert with C₃ grasses and diverse grazing mammals.

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@article{li08900u,
  author={Liddy, H. M. and Feakins, S. J. and Corsetti, F. A. and Sage, R. and Dengler, N. and Whistler, D. P. and Takeuchi, G. T. and Faull, M. and Wang, X.},
  title={Photosynthetic pathway of grass fossils from the upper Miocene Dove Spring Formation, Mojave Desert, California},
  year={2018},
  journal={Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology},
  volume={490},
  pages={131--140},
  doi={10.1016/j.palaeo.2017.10.019},
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - li08900u
AU  - Liddy, H. M.
AU  - Feakins, S. J.
AU  - Corsetti, F. A.
AU  - Sage, R.
AU  - Dengler, N.
AU  - Whistler, D. P.
AU  - Takeuchi, G. T.
AU  - Faull, M.
AU  - Wang, X.
PY  - 2018
TI  - Photosynthetic pathway of grass fossils from the upper Miocene Dove Spring Formation, Mojave Desert, California
JA  - Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol.
JO  - Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
VL  - 490
SP  - 131
EP  - 140
DO  - 10.1016/j.palaeo.2017.10.019
ER  -

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