TY - JOUR
T1 - Sensitivity of leaf size and shape to climate
T2 - Global patterns and paleoclimatic applications
AU - Peppe, Daniel J.
AU - Royer, Dana L.
AU - Cariglino, Bárbara
AU - Oliver, Sofia Y.
AU - Newman, Sharon
AU - Leight, Elias
AU - Enikolopov, Grisha
AU - Fernandez-Burgos, Margo
AU - Herrera, Fabiany
AU - Adams, Jonathan M.
AU - Correa, Edwin
AU - Currano, Ellen D.
AU - Erickson, J. Mark
AU - Hinojosa, Luis Felipe
AU - Hoganson, John W.
AU - Iglesias, Ari
AU - Jaramillo, Carlos A.
AU - Johnson, Kirk R.
AU - Jordan, Gregory J.
AU - Kraft, Nathan J B
AU - Lovelock, Elizabeth C.
AU - Lusk, Christopher H.
AU - Niinemets, Ülo
AU - Peñuelas, Josep
AU - Rapson, Gillian
AU - Wing, Scott L.
AU - Wright, Ian J.
PY - 2011/5
Y1 - 2011/5
N2 - Paleobotanists have long used models based on leaf size and shape to reconstruct paleoclimate. However, most models incorporate a single variable or use traits that are not physiologically or functionally linked to climate, limiting their predictive power. Further, they often underestimate paleotemperature relative to other proxies. Here we quantify leaf-climate correlations from 92 globally distributed, climatically diverse sites, and explore potential confounding factors. Multiple linear regression models for mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP) are developed and applied to nine well-studied fossil floras. We find that leaves in cold climates typically have larger, more numerous teeth, and are more highly dissected. Leaf habit (deciduous vs evergreen), local water availability, and phylogenetic history all affect these relationships. Leaves in wet climates are larger and have fewer, smaller teeth. Our multivariate MAT and MAP models offer moderate improvements in precision over univariate approaches (±4.0 vs 4.8°C for MAT) and strong improvements in accuracy. For example, our provisional MAT estimates for most North American fossil floras are considerably warmer and in better agreement with independent paleoclimate evidence. Our study demonstrates that the inclusion of additional leaf traits that are functionally linked to climate improves paleoclimate reconstructions. This work also illustrates the need for better understanding of the impact of phylogeny and leaf habit on leaf-climate relationships.
AB - Paleobotanists have long used models based on leaf size and shape to reconstruct paleoclimate. However, most models incorporate a single variable or use traits that are not physiologically or functionally linked to climate, limiting their predictive power. Further, they often underestimate paleotemperature relative to other proxies. Here we quantify leaf-climate correlations from 92 globally distributed, climatically diverse sites, and explore potential confounding factors. Multiple linear regression models for mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP) are developed and applied to nine well-studied fossil floras. We find that leaves in cold climates typically have larger, more numerous teeth, and are more highly dissected. Leaf habit (deciduous vs evergreen), local water availability, and phylogenetic history all affect these relationships. Leaves in wet climates are larger and have fewer, smaller teeth. Our multivariate MAT and MAP models offer moderate improvements in precision over univariate approaches (±4.0 vs 4.8°C for MAT) and strong improvements in accuracy. For example, our provisional MAT estimates for most North American fossil floras are considerably warmer and in better agreement with independent paleoclimate evidence. Our study demonstrates that the inclusion of additional leaf traits that are functionally linked to climate improves paleoclimate reconstructions. This work also illustrates the need for better understanding of the impact of phylogeny and leaf habit on leaf-climate relationships.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79954600329&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03615.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03615.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 21294735
AN - SCOPUS:79954600329
SN - 0028-646X
VL - 190
SP - 724
EP - 739
JO - New Phytologist
JF - New Phytologist
IS - 3
ER -