The global expansion of C-4 grasslands in the late Miocene has been attribu
ted to a large-scale decrease in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO,) concentra
tions. This triggering mechanism is controversial, in part because of a lac
k of direct evidence for change in the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO(2)) and
because other factors are also important determinants in controlling plant
-type distributions. Alkenone-based pCO(2) estimates for the Late Miocene i
ndicate that pCO(2) increased from 14 to 9 million years ago and stabilized
at preindustrial values by 9 million years ago. The estimates presented he
re provide no evidence for major changes in pCO(2) during the Late Miocene.
Thus, C-4 plant expansion was Likely driven by additional factors, possibl
y a tectonically related episode of enhanced Low-latitude aridity or change
s in seasonal precipitation patterns on a global scale (or both).