National Academies Press: OpenBook

Effects of Past Global Change on Life (1995)

Chapter: Evidence for Climatic Variability

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Suggested Citation:"Evidence for Climatic Variability." National Research Council. 1995. Effects of Past Global Change on Life. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4762.
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Page 147

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THE RESPONSE OF HIERARCHIALLY STRUCTURED ECOSYSTEMS TO LONG-TERM CLIMATIC CHANGE: A CASE 147 STUDY USING TROPICAL PEAT SWAMPS OF PENNSYLVANIAN AGE though species turnover tends to occur in greatest numbers at the breakpoints, where landscape patterns also change, the replacements that occur at these times are on ecomorphic themes, except at the Westphalian-Stephanian boundary. Figure 8.9 Patterns of turnover of species between coal swamps; first occurrences and last occurrences of species, and total species refer to individual coals. Similarity (Jaccard) and turnover percentage are comparisons between successive coals. At the Westphalian-Stephanian boundary the basic pattern changes. Many of the dominant tree ecomorphs are eliminated in the swamp extinctions. As a consequence, the dynamics of species interactions alone appear to dictate the initial patterns of swamp reorganization in the early Stephanian. Great variation in the suite of dominant species is detected palynologically (Phillips et al., 1974, 1985) among the coals that occur successively after the extinction. Ultimately, the system appears to reequilibrate, with fern dominance and pteridosperm subdominance becoming the rule for the remainder of the Stephanian. These patterns suggest that following the disruption of Westphalian ecosystem structure, coal-swamp dynamics became more stochastic for a relatively short period, until a new system of interactions was established. CLIMATE CHANGE AND CAUSATION Evidence for Climatic Variability The morphological characteristics of tropical Euramerican floras indicate a humid, warm climate, lacking seasonality for much of the time: large, evergreen leaves; trunks and leaves with only minor armoring; woods lacking growth rings; trees and shrubs with structure suggesting rapid growth. The characteristics of Late Carboniferous plants are magnified as climate indicators by plants of the younger Permian Period in Euramerica, many of which are much more xeromorphic in character and suggest growth under periodic moisture limitation. One of the most extreme examples of xeromorphy in the Permian is the Hermit Shale flora of Arizona (White, 1929), which contains only seed plants, many of which are armored with spines and have thick, highly sclerotic leaves; the flora is associated with clear sedimentological indicators of seasonal rainfall, and may have inhabited a dry coastal area on the margin of

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What can we expect as global change progresses? Will there be thresholds that trigger sudden shifts in environmental conditions—or that cause catastrophic destruction of life?

Effects of Past Global Change on Life explores what earth scientists are learning about the impact of large-scale environmental changes on ancient life—and how these findings may help us resolve today's environmental controversies.

Leading authorities discuss historical climate trends and what can be learned from the mass extinctions and other critical periods about the rise and fall of plant and animal species in response to global change. The volume develops a picture of how environmental change has closed some evolutionary doors while opening others—including profound effects on the early members of the human family.

An expert panel offers specific recommendations on expanding research and improving investigative tools—and targets historical periods and geological and biological patterns with the most promise of shedding light on future developments.

This readable and informative book will be of special interest to professionals in the earth sciences and the environmental community as well as concerned policymakers.

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