IMPACT OF CHANGING ATMOSPHERIC CO2 CONCENTRATIONS OVER THE PHANEROZOIC ON STOMATAL PARAMETERS OF VASCULAR LAND PLANTS

A novel and multi-disciplinary subject involving the relationships between changes in atmospheric C02 concentration throughout the geological history and features of plant anatomy is reviewed. Particular attention will be given to stomatal parameters (stomatal density and stomatal index) which are recorded at a cellular level in fossil plants and the relationships of these observable parameters to earth life history and global environmental change. Trends of atmospheric CO2, concentrations during the Phanerozoic period are briefly introduced and recent conceptual advances in understanding the causal mechanisms for changes in stomatal parameters of land vascular plants are considered. In addition, some of the inherent problems and limitations of this kind of work are discussed and future research directions are presented.