Evaluating plant carbon isotope fractionation as a pCO2 proxy for the geologic record

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Plant carbon isotopes preserved in the sedimentary record are valuable proxies for paleovegetation and paleoclimate in the absence of pollen or macrofossils. Plant carbon isotopes will be measured from leaf waxes preserved in a suite of samples that capture known periods of high CO2 concentration in the Eocene and Oligocene to reconcile conflicts in our understanding of the factors that influence plant carbon isotopes over geologic time. The carbon isotopic composition of plants is used to understand past changes in environment, vegetation, and climate. This project will use the geologic record to examine changes in plant carbon isotopes during times of high atmospheric CO2. The project will benefit society by improving an important proxy for understanding Earth's past climate. In addition to training of an undergraduate and graduate student, this project will foster a broader public understanding of scientific research by expanding on current exhibits in collaboration with the Cincinnati Museum Center, a large urban cultural institution.