Carbon isotopic ratios of modern C3 and C4 vegetation on the Indian peninsula and changes along the plant–soil–river continuum – implications for vegetation reconstructions
Frédérique M. S. A. Kirkels,Hugo J. de Boer,Paulina Concha Hernández,Chris R. T. Martes,Marcel T. J. van der Meer,Sayak Basu,Muhammed O. Usman,and Francien Peterse
Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal
Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, the
Netherlands
Sayak Basu
Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education
and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
present address: Geological Oceanography Department, National
Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403004, India
The distinct carbon isotopic values of C3 and C4 plants are widely used to reconstruct past hydroclimate, where more C3 plants reflect wetter and C4 plants drier conditions. Here we examine the impact of regional hydroclimatic conditions on plant isotopic values in the Godavari River basin, India. We find that it is crucial to identify regional plant isotopic values and consider drought stress, which introduces a bias in C3 / C4 plant estimates and associated hydroclimate reconstructions.
The distinct carbon isotopic values of C3 and C4 plants are widely used to reconstruct past...