Scale and the isotopic record of C4 plants in pedogenic carbonate: from the biome to the rhizosphere

• Published in: Ecology (Durham) Vol. 90; no. 6; p. 1498
• Main Authors: Monger, H Curtis, Cole, David R, Buck, Brenda J, Gallegos, Robert A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.2009
• Subjects: Biological Evolution; Calcium Carbonate - chemistry; Carbon Isotopes; Desert Climate; Ecology - methods; Geology; New Mexico; Plant Roots; Plants - metabolism; Soil

The 13C/12C ratio in pedogenic carbonate (i.e., CaCO3 formed in soil) is a significant tool for investigating C4 biomes of the past. However, the paleoecological meaning of delta13C values in pedogenic carbonate can change with the scale at which one considers the data. We describe studies of modern...