Temperature and Climatic Seasonality Affecting C₃ Versus C₄ Plants Since the Last Deglacial on the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau

Abstract The climate reconstruction of the Tibetan Plateau, which was called the Third Pole Environment, has been a research hotspot in recent years. However, there are few studies on C 3 and C 4 plants evolution and it is an area of active debate on whether there are C 4 plants existing on the Tibetan Plateau. In this study, the paleoclimate of the Hurleg Lake on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau is reconstructed based on n ‐alkane‐induced indicators, while the C 4 plant evolution history is established by compound‐specific isotope of long‐chain n ‐alkanes since 14.1 cal kyr BP. The response of C 4 plant evolution history to climate change on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau demonstrated that C 3 and C 4 plants were sensitive to local and global climate change. Solar radiation in summer, insolation‐affected East Asian monsoon, and seasonal climate (including seasonal variation of the solar radiation, temperature, and precipitation) had significant effects on the long‐term growth of C 4 . On the other hand, factors such as temperature, precipitation, and other potential factors affected the detailed variation of C 4 plants in a relatively short‐term. Our finding maintained the existence of C 4 plants in the high‐altitude region and indicated that the abundance of C 4 plants might increase significantly and the ecological pattern of vegetation on the Tibetan Plateau will change distinctly in the coming warmer climate conditions.