Appraising the roles of nutrient availability, global change, and functional traits during the angiosperm rise to dominance

Abstract

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: E1–E6 Abstract To explain the rise of angiosperms during the Cretaceous, Berendse & Scheffer ( Ecol. Lett. , 12, 2009, 865) invoke feedbacks between leaf litter, soil nutrients, and growth, overlooking other factors affecting resource acquisition by Cretaceous plants. We evaluate their hypothesis, highlight alternative explanations, and emphasize use of a broader framework for understanding the angiosperm radiation.

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