Paleoclimate-induced stress on polar forested ecosystems prior to the Permian-Triassic mass extinction.

ABSTRACT: The end-Permian extinction (EPE) has been considered to be contemporaneous on land and in the oceans. However, re-examined floristic records and new radiometric ages from Gondwana indicate a nuanced terrestrial ecosystem response to EPE global change. Paleosol geochemistry and climate simulations indicate paleoclimate change likely caused the demise of the widespread glossopterid ecosystems in Gondwana. Here, we evaluate the climate response of plants to the EPE via dendrochronology snapshots to produce annual-resolution records of tree-ring growth for a succession of late Permian and early Middle Triassic fossil forests from Antarctica. Paleosol geochemistry indicates a shift in paleoclimate towards more humid conditions in the Early and early Middle Triassic relative to the late Permian.

SUBMITTER: Gulbranson EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9130125 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature