DOI: 10.5061/dryad.8q5t4
title: Data from: Estimating soil pCO2 using paleosol carbonates: implications for the relationship between primary productivity and faunal richness in ancient terrestrial ecosystems

description: In this paper we present a method for estimating soil pCO2 in ancient
 environments using the measured carbon-isotope values of pedogenic
 carbonates and plant-derived organic matter. The validity of soil pCO2
 estimates proves to be highly dependent on the organic δ13C values used in
 the calculations. Organic matter should be sourced from the same paleosol
 profiles as sampled carbonates to yield the most reliable estimates of
 soil pCO2. In order to demonstrate the potential use of soil pCO2
 estimates in paleoecological and paleoenvironmental studies, we compare
 samples from three Upper Jurassic localities. Soil pCO2 estimates,
 interpreted as a qualitative indicator of primary paleoproductivity, are
 used to rank the Late Jurassic terrestrial environments represented by the
 Morrison Formation in western North America, the informally named Lourinhã
 formation in Western Europe, and the Stanleyville Group in Central Africa.
 Because modern terrestrial environments show a positive correlation
 between primary productivity and faunal richness, a similar relationship
 is expected in ancient ecosystems. When the relative paleoproductivity
 levels inferred for each study area are compared with estimates of
 dinosaur generic richness, a positive correlation emerges. Both the
 Morrison and Lourinhã formations have high inferred productivity levels
 and high estimated faunal richness. In contrast, the Stanleyville Group
 appears to have had low primary productivity and low faunal richness.
 Paleoclimatic data available for each study area indicate that both
 productivity and faunal richness are positively linked to water
 availability, as observed in modern terrestrial ecosystems.
description: Supplementary Figure
 01Composite stratigraphic
 sections for the Lourinhã formation in the Portugal study area. Shading
 indicates pedogenically modified strata. White triangles and black circles
 denote positions of pedogenic carbonates and organic matter samples used
 in pCO2 calculations.11005 Myers Suppl Figure
 01.tifSupplementary Figure
 02Composite stratigraphic
 sections for the Morrison Formation at the three localities in the Western
 U.S. Shading indicates pedogenically modified strata. White triangles and
 black circles denote positions of pedogenic carbonates and organic matter
 samples used in pCO2 calculations.11005 Myers Suppl Figure
 02.tifSupplementary Figure
 03Stratigraphic section
 for the Stanleyville Group in the Samba Core. Modified from Cahen et al.
 (1959). Light blue shading indicates pedogenically modified strata. White
 triangles and black circles denote positions of pedogenic carbonates and
 organic matter samples used in pCO2 calculations.11005 Myers Suppl Figure
 03.tifSupplementary Figure
 04Stratigraphic variation
 in carbon-isotope values for pedogenic carbonates and organic matter from
 the Lourinhã and Morrison formations. (A) Pedogenic carbonates from
 northern section of Lourinhã formation, (B) Pedogenic carbonates from
 southern section of Lourinhã formation, (C) Pedogenic carbonates from
 Ghost Ranch section of Morrison Formation, (D) Pedogenic carbonates from
 Shell section of Morrison Formation, (E) Organic matter from northern
 section of Lourinhã formation, (F) Organic matter from southern section of
 Lourinhã formation.11005 Myers Suppl Figure
 04.tifSupplementary Table
 01Carbon-isotope values of
 pedogenic carbonate samples (n = 56) from the Lourinhã formation. Values
 range from -10.66‰ to -5.31‰, with an average of
 -8.30‰.11005 Myers Suppl Table
 01.docSupplementary Table
 02Carbon-isotope values of
 pedogenic carbonate samples (n = 32) from the Morrison Formation. Values
 range from -6.96‰ to -3.28‰, with an average of -5.71‰. Ghost Ranch, NM;
 SH = Shell, WY; MD = Bridger, MT.11005 Myers Suppl Table
 02.docSupplementary Table
 03Carbon-isotope values of
 carbonate samples (n = 7) from the Stanleyville Group. Only CS34 is
 suitable for use in soil pCO2 calculations. See text for
 discussion.11005 Myers Suppl Table
 03.docSupplementary Table
 04Carbon-isotope values of
 plant-derived organic matter from the Lourinhã formation (n = 66). Values
 range from -29.36‰ to -20.18‰. The average δ13C value for all samples is
 -22.33‰. PT = northern section; PL = southern section.11005 Myers Suppl Table
 04.docSupplementary Table
 05Carbon-isotope values of
 plant-derived organic matter from the Morrison Formation (n = 4). Values
 range from -22.28‰ to -18.68‰. The average δ13C value for all samples is
 -21.04‰. GR = Ghost Ranch, NM; MD = Bridger, MT; SH = Shell,
 WY.11005
 Myers Suppl Table 05.docSupplementary Table
 06Carbon-isotope values of
 plant-derived organic matter from the Stanleyville Group (n = 5). The
 average δ13C value for all samples is -24.30‰. Only samples CS21 and CS29
 are potentially Upper Jurassic; all other samples are Lower
 Cretaceous.11005 Myers Suppl Table
 06.doc