High CO2 increases the freezing sensitivity of plants: Implications for paleoclimatic reconstructions from fossil floras

Research Article| November 01, 2002 High CO2 increases the freezing sensitivity of plants: Implications for paleoclimatic reconstructions from fossil floras Dana L. Royer; Dana L. Royer 1Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Colin P. Osborne; Colin P. Osborne 1Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David J. Beerling David J. Beerling 1Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Dana L. Royer 1Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK Colin P. Osborne 1Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK David J. Beerling 1Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 30 Apr 2002 Revision Received: 08 Jul 2002 Accepted: 10 Jul 2002 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2002) 30 (11): 963–966. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0963:HCITFS>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 30 Apr 2002 Revision Received: 08 Jul 2002 Accepted: 10 Jul 2002 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Dana L. Royer, Colin P. Osborne, David J. Beerling; High CO2 increases the freezing sensitivity of plants: Implications for paleoclimatic reconstructions from fossil floras. Geology 2002;; 30 (11): 963–966. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0963:HCITFS>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Reconstructions of coldest month mean temperature (CMMT) in the geologic past are important for understanding the dynamics of the climate system operating at that time. A common method for estimating CMMT involves applying the climatic tolerances of modern plant species to close analogues in the fossil record (the so-called nearest living relative [NLR] approach). Here we show that the leaves of seven modern species commonly used as NLRs to reconstruct CMMT from the fossil record freeze at warmer temperatures when grown at high CO2 (800 vs. 400 ppmv). This CO2 effect was found across all tested plant groups, including palms, taxodiaceous conifers, and two Southern Hemisphere evergreen species. This pervasive response indicates that many NLR-derived estimates of CMMT for times of high CO2 should be adjusted by at least +1.5 to +3 °C. A revision of CMMT estimates toward warmer values further increases the disparity in continental interiors between CMMT indicators from the fossil record and the colder predictions from general circulation models. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.