Rapid topographic growth of the Taiwan orogen since ~1.3-1.5 Ma.

We present the first paleotopographic reconstruction of Taiwan by measuring the hydrogen isotope composition of leaf waxes (δH) preserved in 3-Ma and younger sediments of the southern Coastal Range. Plant leaf waxes record the δH of precipitation during formation, which is related to elevation. Leaf waxes produced across the orogen are transported and deposited in adjacent sedimentary basins, providing deep-time records of the source elevation of detrital organic matter.

Integrating Earth-life systems: a geogenomic approach.

For centuries, scientists have recognized and worked to understand how Earth's mutable landscape and climate shape the distribution and evolution of species. Here, we describe the emerging field of geogenomics, which uses the reciprocal and deep integration of geologic, climatic, and population genomic data to define and test cause-effect relationships between Earth and life at intermediate spatial and temporal scales (i.e.