The Emerald Planet

Résumé du livre

David Beerling is the Sorby Professor of Natural Sciences and Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation at the University of Sheffield, where he researches plant biology and global change. He’s also Editor in Chief of the Royal Society journal Biology Letters. Beerling has written two monographs and many scientific papers; his second book, Making Eden: How Plants Transformed a Barren Planet, was published in 2019.

Plants have adapted remarkably to diverse environments, evolving traits like leaves to enhance photosynthesis as atmospheric CO2 levels declined over millions of years. This adaptation not only improved plant survival but also influenced global biodiversity, including the rise of animals and insects. Plants themselves contributed to CO2 reduction, creating feedback loops that shaped ecosystems. Shifts in atmospheric oxygen and CO2 levels further impacted life on Earth, from the growth of Carboniferous giants to mass extinctions like the Permian event, where ozone layer destruction and genetic mutations played pivotal roles. Rising oxygen levels fueled the expansion of organisms, while subsequent declines led to extinctions. Greenhouse gases, particularly CO2, also drove ancient warming periods, fostering lush ecosystems that later cooled as CO2 levels dropped, leading to glaciation and modern climate patterns. The evolution of C4 plants during low CO2 periods highlights plants' adaptability, offering potential solutions for future food security. Fossil evidence reveals that polar regions once supported forests, with deciduous trees dominating the Arctic due to rapid growth and environmental factors like fires, while evergreens persisted in the Antarctic. As warming trends continue, the resurgence of polar vegetation could exacerbate climate change.

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