What the study found
The study found that Early Triassic lycophytes, a group of seedless vascular plants, may have had a physiological advantage after the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. The authors link this advantage to crassulacean acid metabolism, or CAM, a water-saving photosynthetic strategy used by some modern plants.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that CAM physiology may have been a mechanism that helped plants survive and ecosystems recover after Earth's largest mass extinction. They suggest this helps explain how pioneer, or disaster, plants were able to colonize stressed post-extinction environments.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used independent phylogenetic analyses to examine how Early Triassic lycophytes were related to modern Isoetales, a plant group known for ecological flexibility. They also compared carbon isotope signatures from the fossils with those of living Isoetes plants and combined these results with climate simulations.
What worked and what didn't
The phylogenetic analyses indicated that Early Triassic lycophytes are closely related to modern Isoetales. Their carbon isotope signatures resembled those of extant Isoetes that use CAM photosynthesis, and the climate simulations suggested that CAM could have been advantageous under Early Triassic super greenhouse conditions.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe direct experiments on living Early Triassic plants, so the CAM interpretation is inferential. It also does not provide detailed limitations beyond the evidence and comparisons summarized here.
Key points
- Early Triassic lycophytes may have used CAM photosynthesis.
- The fossils are reported to be closely related to modern Isoetales.
- Carbon isotope signatures resembled those of living CAM-using Isoetes.
- Climate simulations suggested CAM could help under Early Triassic super greenhouse conditions.
- The authors propose CAM as a possible mechanism for post-extinction plant survival.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- CAM photosynthesis may have aided survival after the Permian-Triassic extinction
- Authors:
- Zhen Xu, Jason; id_orcid 0000-0003-0286-8236 Hilton, Jianxin Yu, Paul B. Wignall, Alex Farnsworth, Isabel P. Montañez, Nian Peng, Qinzhong Liang, Xin Sun, Benjamin Mills, Barry H. Lomax
- Institutions:
- China University of Geosciences, China University of Geosciences, China University of Geosciences, China University of Geosciences, China University of Geosciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Forest Research, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Planetary Science Institute, University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, University of California, Davis, University of Leeds, University of Leeds, University of Leeds, University of Nottingham
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-20
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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