Skip to main content
Log in

Impact of changing atmospheric CO2 concentrations over the Phanerozoic on stomatal parameters of vascular land plants

  • Reviews
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

A novel and multi-disciplinary subject involving the relationships between changes in atmospheric C02 concentration throughout the geological history and features of plant anatomy is reviewed. Particular attention will be given to stomatal parameters (stomatal density and stomatal index) which are recorded at a cellular level in fossil plants and the relationships of these observable parameters to earth life history and global environmental change. Trends of atmospheric CO2, concentrations during the Phanerozoic period are briefly introduced and recent conceptual advances in understanding the causal mechanisms for changes in stomatal parameters of land vascular plants are considered. In addition, some of the inherent problems and limitations of this kind of work are discussed and future research directions are presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Friedli, H., Lotscher, H., Oescheger, H.et al., Ice core record of the13C/12 C ratio of atmospheric C02 in the past two centuries,Nature, 1986, 324: 237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Barnola, J. M., Raynaud, D., Korotkevich, Y. S.et al., Vostock ice core provides 160 000-year record of atmospheric C02,Nature, 1987, 329: 408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bazzaz, F. A., The response of natural ecosystems to the rising global C02 levels,Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst., 1990, 21: 167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Houghton, J. T., Meira Filho, L. G., Callander, B. A.et al., Climate change,The IPCC Scientific Assessment, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bai, Kezhi, Kuang Tingyun, Response of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Aixiangnuo) to elevated C02,IRRN, 1994, 19(3): 46.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Neftel, A., Oeschger, H., Staffelbach, T.et al., C02 record in the Byrd ice core 50 000—5 000 a BP,Nature, 1988, 331: 609.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Bemer, R. A., The rise of plants and their effect on weathering and atmospheric C02,Science, 1997, 276: 544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Mora, C. I., Driese, S. G., Seager, P. G., Carbon dioxide in the Paleozoic atmosphere, Evidence from carbon-isotope compositions of pedogenic carbonate,Geology, 1991, 19: 1017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bemer, R. A., 3Geocarb: A revised model of atmospheric C02 over Phanerozoic time,Amer. J. Sci., 1994, 291: 56.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bemer, R. A., Lasaga, A. C., Garrels, R. M., The carbonate-silicate geochemical cycle and its effect on atmospheric rarbon dioxide over the past 100 million years,Amer. J. Sci., 1983, 283: 641.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Worsley, T. R., Moore, T. R., Fraticelli, C. M.et al., Phanerozoic C02 levels and global temperatures inferred from changing palaeogeography,Pangea. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap., 1994, 208: 57.

    Google Scholar 

  12. McElwain, J., Chaloner, W. G., Stomatal density and index of fossil plants track atmospheric carbon dioxidr in the Paleozoic,Annuls of Botany, 1995, 76: 389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Chaloner, W. G., McElwain, J., The fossil plant record and global climatic change,Review of Palaetobotany and Palynology., 1997, 95: 73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Woodward, F. I., Stornatal numbers are sensitive to increases in C02 from pre-industrial levels,Nature, 1987, 327: 617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Penuelas, J., Matamala, R., Changes in N and S leaf content, stomatal density and specific leaf area of 14 plant species during the last three centuries of C02 increase,J. Exp. Bot., 1990, 41: 1119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Raven, J. A., Ramsden, H. J., Similarity of stomatal index in the C1, plantSalsola kali I., in material collected in 1843 and in 1987: relevance to changes in atmospheric CO2 content,Transactions of the Botanical Society Edinburgh, 1989, 45: 223.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Radoglou, K.M., Jarvis, P. G., Effects of CO2 enrichment on four poplar clones, II. Leaf surface properties,Annals of Botany, 1990, 65: 627.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Beerling, D. J., Chaloner, W. G., Stornatal Responsor of EgyptianOlea europaea L. haves to CO2 Change since 1327BC.Annals of Botany, 1993, 71: 431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Beerling, D. J., Changes in the stomatal density ofBetula nana leaves in response to increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration since the Late-Glacial,Spec. Pap. Pal., 1993, 49: 181.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Beerling, D. J., Mattey, D. P., Chaloner, W. G., Shifts in the δ13C ofSalix herbacea L. leaves in response to spatial and temporal gradients of atmospheric CO2 concentration,Proc. Roy. Soc. Land., 1993, 253: 53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Van de Water, P. K., Leavitt, S. W., Betancourt, J. L., Trends in stomatal density and13C/12C ratios ofPinus flexilis needles during last glacial-interglacial cycle,Science, 1994, 264: 239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Van der Burgh, J., Visscher, H., Dilcher, D. I..et al., Palaeoatmospheric signatures in Neogene fossil leaves,Science, 1993, 260: 1788.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. He Xinqiang, Lin Yuehui, Lin Jinxinget al., Relationship hetween stomatal density and the changes of atmospheric CO2 concentrations,Chinese Science Bullatin, 1998, 43(10): 860.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Beerling, D. J., Kelly, C. K., Stomatal density responses of temperate woodland plant over the past seven decades of CO2 increase: A comparison of Salisbury (1927) with contemporary data,Amer. J. Bot., 1997, 84(11): 1572.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Paoletti, E., Gellinni, R., Stomata1 density variation in beech and holm oak leaves collected over the last 200 years,Acta Ecologia, 1993, 14: 173.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kurschner, W. M., Van de Burgh, J., Visscher, H.et al., Oak leaves as biosensors of late Keogene and early Pleistocene palaeoatmospheric CO2 concentrations,Marine Micropalaeontology, 1996, 27: 299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. McElwain, J. C., Mitchell, F. J. G., Jones, M. B., Relationship of stomatal density and index ofSalix cinerea to atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations in the Holocene,The Holocene, 1995, 5: 216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

About this article

Cite this article

Sun, Q., Chen, L. & Li, C. Impact of changing atmospheric CO2 concentrations over the Phanerozoic on stomatal parameters of vascular land plants. Chin. Sci. Bull. 44, 577–582 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03182711

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03182711

Keywords

Navigation