Ecology and evolution of Devonian trees in New York, USA

Abstract

The first trees in New York were Middle Devonian (earliest Givetian) cladoxyls (?Duisbergia and Wattieza), with shallow-rooted manoxylic trunks. Cladoxyl trees in New York thus postdate their latest Emsian evolution in Spitzbergen. Progymnosperm trees (?Svalbardia and Callixylon–Archaeopteris) appeared in New York later (mid-Givetian) than progymnosperm trees from Spitzbergen (early Givetian). Associated paleosols are evidence that Wattieza formed intertidal to estuarine mangal and Callixylon formed dry riparian woodland. Also from paleosols comes evidence that Wattieza and Callixylon required about 350mm more mean annual precipitation than plants of equivalent stature today, that Wattieza tolerated mean annual temperature 7°C less than current limits of mangal (20°C), and Callixylon could tolerate temperatures 14°C less than modern mangal. Devonian mangal and riparian woodland spread into New York from wetter regions elsewhere during transient paleoclimatic spikes of very high CO2 (3923±238 ppmv), and subhumid (mean annual precipitation 730±147mm) conditions, which were more likely extrinsic atmospheric perturbations rather than consequences of tree evolution. For most of the Middle Devonian CO2 was lower (2263±238 ppmv), and paleoclimate in New York was semiarid (mean annual precipitation 484±147mm). Such transient perturbations and immigration events may explain the 40million year gap between the late Emsian (400Ma) evolution of trees and Famennian (360Ma) CO2 drawdown and expansion of ice caps.