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<p>The Permian–Triassic mass extinction represents the most severe loss of biodiversity in Earth history and profoundly reorganized terrestrial ecosystems. On land, this crisis was followed by a marked floral turnover, with herbaceous lycophytes dominating Early Triassic vegetation. Here we show that these pioneer (so-called disaster) taxa that rapidly colonized stressed post-extinction environments, possessed specialized physiological traits that promoted survival under extreme conditions. Independent phylogenetic analyses show that Early Triassic lycophytes are closely related to modern Isoetales, a group characterized by exceptional ecophysiological flexibility. Their carbon isotope signatures resemble those of extant <i>Isoetes</i> that use crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis, indicating a similar physiological strategy in deep time. Coupling these results with climate simulations suggests that CAM photosynthesis could have conferred a substantial advantage under Early Triassic super greenhouse conditions. Together, our findings identify CAM physiology as a potential mechanism enabling plant survival and ecosystem recovery following Earth’s largest mass extinction.</p>

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CAM photosynthesis may have conferred an advantage during the Permian–Triassic mass extinction event

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月20日

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  • Zhen Xu,
  • Jason Hilton,
  • Jianxin Yu,
  • Paul B. Wignall,
  • Alexander Farnsworth,
  • Isabel P. Montañez,
  • Nian Peng,
  • Qinzhong Liang,
  • Xin Sun,
  • Benjamin J. W. Mills,
  • Barry H. Lomax

摘要

The Permian–Triassic mass extinction represents the most severe loss of biodiversity in Earth history and profoundly reorganized terrestrial ecosystems. On land, this crisis was followed by a marked floral turnover, with herbaceous lycophytes dominating Early Triassic vegetation. Here we show that these pioneer (so-called disaster) taxa that rapidly colonized stressed post-extinction environments, possessed specialized physiological traits that promoted survival under extreme conditions. Independent phylogenetic analyses show that Early Triassic lycophytes are closely related to modern Isoetales, a group characterized by exceptional ecophysiological flexibility. Their carbon isotope signatures resemble those of extant Isoetes that use crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis, indicating a similar physiological strategy in deep time. Coupling these results with climate simulations suggests that CAM photosynthesis could have conferred a substantial advantage under Early Triassic super greenhouse conditions. Together, our findings identify CAM physiology as a potential mechanism enabling plant survival and ecosystem recovery following Earth’s largest mass extinction.