Oldest evidence of abundant C4 grasses and habitat heterogeneity in eastern Africa
4 institutional releases
Published in Science · View the paper (DOI)
Researchers found evidence of C4 grasses in eastern Africa dating back to around 15 million years ago, contradicting the long-held idea that open habitats proliferated later. The findings suggest that early apes lived in a variety of habitats and that C4 grasses played a significant role in shaping their evolution.
Coverage from 4 institutions
- Decade-long project by Baylor researcher and collaborators pushes back the prehistoric timeline in Africa by more than 10 million years Baylor University · Apr 13, 2023 · first to report
- New studies push back evidence for open habitats in Africa by more than 10 million years University of Minnesota · Apr 13, 2023
- East African grassy woodlands appeared 10 million years earlier than thought, influencing hominoid evolution American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) · Apr 13, 2023
- Ohio University professor Nancy Stevens helps uncover ecosystem evolution in Africa in paper published in Science Ohio University · Apr 28, 2023