Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic history of deciduousness and the terminal Cretaceous event

• Published in: Paleobiology Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 215 - 226
• Main Author: Wolfe, Jack A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 1987; Paleontological Society
• Subjects: Broadleaved evergreen forests; Climate models; Coniferous forests; Deciduous forests; Leaves; Northern hemisphere; Paleoclimatology; Plants; Taxa; Vegetation
• ISSN: 0094-8373; 1938-5331
• DOI: 10.1017/S0094837300008769

Deciduousness in mesic, broad-leaved plants occurred in disturbed, middle-latitude environments during the Late Cretaceous. Only in polar environments in the Late Cretaceous was the deciduous element dominant, although of low diversity. The terminal Cretaceous event resulted in wide-spread selection for plants of deciduous habit and diversification of deciduous taxa, thus leaving a lasting imprint on Northern Hemisphere vegetation. Various environmental factors have played important roles in subsequent diversification of mesic, broad-leaved deciduous taxa and in origination and decline of broad-leaved deciduous forests. Low diversity and rarity of mesic deciduous plants in the post-Cretaceous of the Southern Hemisphere indicate that the inferred “impact winter” of the terminal Cretaceous event had little effect on Southern Hemisphere vegetation and climate.