The late Paleozoic ecological-evolutionary laboratory, a land-plant fossil record perspective

Abstract

In this essay we examine the fossil record of land plants, focusing on the late Paleozoic. We explore the nature of this record in terms of what is preserved, where, why and with what biases. And as a consequence, how it can be used to answer questions posed at various spatial and temporal scales, what cautions we must consider when interpreting it, and what surprises it may hold. Generally speaking, the record of terrestrial plants is rich and reveals clear directional trends in phenotypic complexity, biodiversity, and ecosystem organization. It also has reasonably well understood taphonomic biases. It must be used with considerable caution, however, when researching time and location of evolutionary innovations and the development of ecological structure and interactions.