Atmospheric carbon dioxide: a driver of photosynthetic eukaryote evolution for over a billion years?

Beerling, David J.

doi:10.1098/rstb.2011.0276

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Roots had an enormous impact on the evolution of other aspects of plant morphology and on the development of soil ecosystems. Their effect on the evolution of Earth's atmosphere and climate through the Phanerozoic is an exciting and developing area of research (Bergman et al, 2004;Beerling and Berner, 2005;Berner et al, 2007;Beerling, 2012;Kenrick et al, 2012). Living organisms are part of the biogeochemical carbon cycle, in which CO 2 is drawn down from the atmosphere through two main processes.…”

Section: Earth Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Origin and Early Evolution of Roots

2014

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Geological sites of exceptional fossil preservation are becoming a focus of research on root evolution because they retain edaphic and ecological context, and the remains of plant soft tissues are preserved in some. New information is emerging on the origins of rooting systems, their interactions with fungi, and their nature and diversity in the earliest forest ecosystems. Remarkably wellpreserved fossils prove that mycorrhizal symbionts were diverse in simple rhizoid-based systems. Roots evolved in a piecemeal fashion and independently in several major clades through the Devonian Period (416 to 360 million years ago), rapidly extending functionality and complexity. Evidence from extinct arborescent clades indicates that polar auxin transport was recruited independently in several to regulate wood and root development. The broader impact of root evolution on the geochemical carbon cycle is a developing area and one in which the interests of the plant physiologist intersect with those of the geochemist.

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Section: Earth Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Origin and Early Evolution of Roots

2014

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“…Fossil records suggest the appearance of seaweed eukaryotes around 1.2 Gyr with the possible colonisation of freshwater lakes around 1.1 Gyr. These organisms, and most of photoautotrophs that evolved from them, used the enzyme Rubisco to catalyse the photosynthetic reduction of carbon 11 . Terrestrial bryophytes started appearing from around 550 Myr followed by vascular land plants 440 Myr ago during the Devonian period.…”

Section: The Early History Of Microalgaementioning

confidence: 99%

Cyanobacteria and Microalgae: A Renewable Source of Bioactive Compounds and Other Chemicals

Encarnação

Pais²,

Campos

et al. 2015

Science Progress

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Microalgae and cyanobacteria are rich sources of many valuable compounds, including important bioactive and biotechnologically relevant chemicals. Their enormous biodiversity, and the consequent variability in the respective biochemical composition, make microalgae cultivations a promising resource for many novel chemically and biologically active molecules and compounds of high commercial value such as lipids and dyes. The nature of the chemicals produced can be manipulated by changing the cultivation media and conditions. Algae are extremely versatile because they can be adapted to a variety of cell culture conditions. They do not require arable land, can be cultivated on saline water and wastewaters, and require much less water than plants. They possess an extremely high growth rate making these microorganisms very attractive for use in biofuel production – some species of algae can achieve around 100 times more oil than oil seeds. In addition, microalgae and cyanobacteria can accumulate various biotoxins and can contribute to mitigate greenhouse gases since they produce biomass through carbon dioxide fixation. In this review, we provide an overview of the application of microalgae in the production of bioactive and other chemicals.

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“…The evolution of land plants occurred when atmospheric concentrations of CO 2 were high, which will have ameliorated the balance between carbon gain and water loss (Beerling, 2012). The subsequent draw-down of atmospheric CO 2 and increase in atmospheric oxygen concentrations (Berner, 2006) increased the potential for photorespiration relative to photosynthesis , favouring the evolution of alternative photosynthetic mechanisms (Sage et al, 2012) and affecting the evolution of plant leaf form (Beerling et al, 2001).…”

Section: A Biogeochemical Perspective and Anthropogenic Environmentalmentioning

confidence: 99%

The fitness of the environments of air and water for photosynthesis, growth, reproduction and dispersal of photoautotrophs: An evolutionary and biogeochemical perspective

Maberly

2014

Aquatic Botany

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a b s t r a c tLife has evolved to exploit aquatic and terrestrial environments, but these present very different challenges and opportunities for photoautotrophs. This paper outlines how the physical and chemical 'fitness' of air and water have interacted with the evolution of the physical structures and physiological properties of aquatic and terrestrial algae and plants and altered the biogeochemistry of the planet. The two environments are particularly different for photosynthesis and the consequences of water stress in air and potential carbon and light stress under water are discussed, as are the consequences of the lower density of air compared to water for investment in support. The properties of air and water also affect mineral nutrition, reproduction and dispersal of photoautotrophs and the nature of competition between different types of plants. Furthermore, the pivotal role of photoautotrophs in global biogeochemical cycles and major feedbacks are emphasised. They have altered the environment dramatically, changed the availability of essential resources and created niches that can be exploited by new or different species or types of organism. Recent rapid anthropogenic changes, particularly in CO 2 , are noted and discussed in relation to the security of human requirements.

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Atmospheric carbon dioxide: a driver of photosynthetic eukaryote evolution for over a billion years?

Cited by 10 publications

References 48 publications

The Origin and Early Evolution of Roots

The Origin and Early Evolution of Roots

Cyanobacteria and Microalgae: A Renewable Source of Bioactive Compounds and Other Chemicals

The fitness of the environments of air and water for photosynthesis, growth, reproduction and dispersal of photoautotrophs: An evolutionary and biogeochemical perspective

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