Was low atmospheric CO2 during the Pleistocene a limiting factor for the origin of agriculture?
Was low atmospheric CO2 during the Pleistocene a limiting factor for the origin of agriculture?
- Global Change Biology, 1, p.93-106, 1995 .
Agriculture originated independently in many distinct regions at approximately the same time in human history. This synchrony in agricultural origins indicates that a global factor may have controlled the timing of the transition from foraging to foodproducing economies. The global factor may have been a rise in atmospheric CO2 from below 200 to near 270 ^mol mol"^ which occurred between 15,000 and 12,000 years ago. Atmospheric CO2 directly affects photosynthesis and plant productivity, with the largest proportional responses occurring below the current level of 350 )xmol mor^ In the late Pleistocene, CO2 levels near 200 (imol mol"^ may have been too low to support the level of productivity required for successful establishment of agriculture. Recent studies demonstrate that atmospheric CO2 increase from 200 to 270 ^.mol mor' stimulates photosynthesis and biomass productivity of C3 plants by 25
ORIGIN OF AGRICULTURE
CO2 ENRICHMENT
CROP DOMESTICATION
GLOBAL CHANGE
NEOLITHIC TRANSITION
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Agriculture originated independently in many distinct regions at approximately the same time in human history. This synchrony in agricultural origins indicates that a global factor may have controlled the timing of the transition from foraging to foodproducing economies. The global factor may have been a rise in atmospheric CO2 from below 200 to near 270 ^mol mol"^ which occurred between 15,000 and 12,000 years ago. Atmospheric CO2 directly affects photosynthesis and plant productivity, with the largest proportional responses occurring below the current level of 350 )xmol mor^ In the late Pleistocene, CO2 levels near 200 (imol mol"^ may have been too low to support the level of productivity required for successful establishment of agriculture. Recent studies demonstrate that atmospheric CO2 increase from 200 to 270 ^.mol mor' stimulates photosynthesis and biomass productivity of C3 plants by 25
ORIGIN OF AGRICULTURE
CO2 ENRICHMENT
CROP DOMESTICATION
GLOBAL CHANGE
NEOLITHIC TRANSITION
PHOTOSYNTHESIS