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Stomatal frequency responses in hardwood-swamp vegetation from Florida during a 60-year continuous CO₂ increase¹

²Palaeoecology, Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Utrecht University, 3584 CD Utrecht, The Netherlands; ³Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida 32611 USA

ABSTRACT

In a stomatal frequency analysis of leaf remains of Quercus nigra, Acer rubrum, Myrica cerifera, Ilex cassine, and Osmunda regalis that were preserved in precisely dated peat deposits of north-central Florida, the stomatal index decreased as a response to an atmospheric CO₂ increase from 310 ppmv to 370 ppmv over the past 60 years. The observations indicate that CO₂ responsiveness may occur in different canopy levels of hardwood-swamp vegetation. Apart from common woody plants, long-lived ferns of the undergrowth appear to be affected by CO₂ changes. Response rates are most pronounced in M. cerifera, I. cassine, and O. regalis. The potential of these species for quantifying past atmospheric CO₂ levels is assessed by a combined analysis of the well-dated buried leaf record and herbarium material collected during the past century. Leaf remains of the widely occurring species M. cerifera and I. cassine are concluded to be highly suitable for CO₂ reconstructions, by which the application range of the stomatal frequency proxy is extended into the warm-temperate to subtropical realm of North America.

Key Words: atmospheric CO₂ • Florida • peat deposits • stomatal index • subfossil leaves

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