Cow Creek Flora, ID PA 951
Fossil Modern Stomata Theme: Research by Dr. Michael Hren
Fossil plants provide critical information for understanding ancient climate, ecosystems and plant function in past greenhouse climates. This data can inform scientists about the sensitivity of Earth’s climate to variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations or how climate changes on a regional and global scale in response to changes in the atmosphere. This project was focused on examining modern plant leaves from four species of riparian plants along the Fenton River, CT to understand how environmental variables impact plant stomatal conductance and water use efficiency and chemical signatures of these changes. Modern plants are then used as an analogue for evaluating ancient leaves preserved in 50 and 300 million year old sediments to understanding how plants impact global water cycling and climate.
We utilized macrophotography to examine leaf structure and stomatal morphology in modern and ancient materials and to evaluate physical traits in ancient leaves. This information is critical to quantifying water conductance through leaf stomata and understanding chemical signatures preserved in leaf waxes.
Results from this work show wide differences in how different riparian plant species regulate their stomata to optimize carbon assimilation from the atmosphere and minimize water loss through their leaves. This information strongly enhances our understanding of the chemical signature preserved in leaf materials and interpreting data from ancient leaves.
EXHIBIT ON DISPLAY NOW AT UCONN'S NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Illuminated with: macroscopicsolutions.com/store/product-category/imaging-p...
Imaged with: macroscopicsolutions.com/store/product/the-macropod-pro-m...
Images in this gallery were captured by:
Mark Smith M.S. Geoscientist mark@macroscopicsolutions.com
Annette Evans Ph.D. Student at the University of Connecticut annette@macroscopicsolutions.com
Cow Creek Flora, ID PA 951
Fossil Modern Stomata Theme: Research by Dr. Michael Hren
Fossil plants provide critical information for understanding ancient climate, ecosystems and plant function in past greenhouse climates. This data can inform scientists about the sensitivity of Earth’s climate to variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations or how climate changes on a regional and global scale in response to changes in the atmosphere. This project was focused on examining modern plant leaves from four species of riparian plants along the Fenton River, CT to understand how environmental variables impact plant stomatal conductance and water use efficiency and chemical signatures of these changes. Modern plants are then used as an analogue for evaluating ancient leaves preserved in 50 and 300 million year old sediments to understanding how plants impact global water cycling and climate.
We utilized macrophotography to examine leaf structure and stomatal morphology in modern and ancient materials and to evaluate physical traits in ancient leaves. This information is critical to quantifying water conductance through leaf stomata and understanding chemical signatures preserved in leaf waxes.
Results from this work show wide differences in how different riparian plant species regulate their stomata to optimize carbon assimilation from the atmosphere and minimize water loss through their leaves. This information strongly enhances our understanding of the chemical signature preserved in leaf materials and interpreting data from ancient leaves.
EXHIBIT ON DISPLAY NOW AT UCONN'S NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Illuminated with: macroscopicsolutions.com/store/product-category/imaging-p...
Imaged with: macroscopicsolutions.com/store/product/the-macropod-pro-m...
Images in this gallery were captured by:
Mark Smith M.S. Geoscientist mark@macroscopicsolutions.com
Annette Evans Ph.D. Student at the University of Connecticut annette@macroscopicsolutions.com