![Christopher Berry](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/1703?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Christopher Berry
Senior Lecturer
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Media commentator
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
I am a palaeobotanist who specialises in understanding the early radiation of large plants and the birth of forest ecosystems in the Devonian period, about 380 million years ago. This builds on the training I recieved from Professor Dianne Edwards, FRS and from Muriel Fairon-Demaret (Liege, Belgium).
My expertise is based on an exciting fieldwork programme (Svalbard, Greenland, China, USA, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Europe) and precision preparation of the fossils recovered in the labs here in Cardiff. My highest profile publications, with colleagues, on early fossil forests and the growth of early trees, have recieved global publicity.
I enjoy interacting with other scientists to date my fossils, and to interpret the impact of the rise of forests on the Earth system.
Publication
2024
- Davies, N. S., McMahon, W. J. and Berry, C. M. 2024. Earth's earliest forest: fossilized trees and vegetation-induced sedimentary structures from the Middle Devonian (Eifelian) Hangman Sandstone Formation, Somerset and Devon, SW England. Journal of the Geological Society (10.1144/jgs2023-204)
2023
- Stein, W. E., Berry, C. M., VanAller Hernick, L. and Mannolini, F. 2023. Rooting portions of a young pseudosporochnalean from the Catskill Delta complex of New York. International Journal of Plant Sciences 184(8), pp. 601-627. (10.1086/726108)
2022
- Edwards, D., Li, C. and Berry, C. M. 2022. Lower Devonian lycophytes from Sichuan and the palaeogeographic context of coeval plant assemblages from South China. International Journal of Plant Sciences 183(6) (10.1086/720387)
- Berry, C. M., Stein, W. E. and Cordi, J. 2022. A new reconstruction of the iridopteridalean Ibyka amphikoma Skog et Banks from the Middle Devonian of Gilboa, New York State. International Journal of Plant Sciences 183(6), pp. 450-464. (10.1086/720721)
- Wellman, C. H., Berry, C. M., Davies, N. S., Lindemann, F., Marshall, J. E. A. and Wyatt, A. 2022. Low tropical diversity during the adaptive radiation of early land plants. Nature Plants 8(2), pp. 104–109. (10.1038/s41477-021-01067-w)
2021
- Davies, N. S., Berry, C. M., Marshall, J. E. A., Wellman, C. H. and Lindemann, F. 2021. The Devonian Landscape Factory: plant-sediment interactions in the Old Red Sandstone of Svalbard and the rise of vegetation as a biogeomorphic agent. Journal of the Geological Society 178, article number: jgs2020-225. (10.1144/jgs2020-225)
2020
- Hetherington, A. J., Berry, C. M. and Dolan, L. 2020. Multiple origins of dichotomous and lateral branching during root evolution. Nature Plants 6, pp. 454-459. (10.1038/s41477-020-0646-y)
- Stein, W. E. et al. 2020. Mid-Devonian archaeopteris roots signal revolutionary change in earliest fossil forests. Current Biology 30(3), pp. 421-431.e2. (10.1016/j.cub.2019.11.067)
2019
- Berry, C. M. 2019. The evolution of the first forests in the Devonian. Vestnik of Institute of Geology of Komi Science Center of Ural Branch RAS 11, pp. 20-24. (10.19110/2221-1381-2019-11-20-24)
- Wan, Z. et al. 2019. Environmental influences on the stable carbon isotopic composition of Devonian and Early Carboniferous land plants. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 531(A), article number: 109100. (10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.02.025)
- Berry, C. M. 2019. Palaeobotany: the rise of the earth's early forests. Current Biology 29(16), pp. R792-R794. (10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.016)
- Berry, C. M. and Gensel, P. G. 2019. Late Mid Devonian Sawdonia (Zosterophyllopsida) from Venezuela. International Journal of Plant Sciences 180(6), pp. 540-557. (10.1086/702940)
2018
- Zhang, Y., Berry, C. M., Wang, D., Xue, J. and Liu, L. 2018. Pleurorhizoxylon yixingense gen. et sp. nov., a Euphyllophyte Axis with Anatomically Preserved Adventitious Roots from the Late Devonian of South China. International Journal of Plant Sciences 179(7), pp. 523-540. (10.1086/698710)
2017
- Xu, H., Berry, C. M., Stein, W. E., Wang, Y., Tang, P. and Fu, Q. 2017. Unique growth strategy in the Earth's first trees revealed in silicified fossil trunks from China. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114(45), pp. 12009-12014. (10.1073/pnas.1708241114)
2016
- Gensel, P. and Berry, C. M. 2016. Sporangial morphology of the early devonian zosterophyll sawdonia ornata from the type locality (gaspé).. International Journal of Plant Sciences 177(7), pp. 618-632.
- Hetherington, A. J., Berry, C. M. and Dolan, L. 2016. Networks of highly branched stigmarian rootlets developed on the first giant trees. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113(24), pp. 6695-6700. (10.1073/pnas.1514427113)
2015
- Berry, C. M. and Marshall, J. E. A. 2015. Lycopsid forests in the early Late Devonian paleoequatorial zone of Svalbard. Geology 43(12), pp. 1043-1046. (10.1130/G37000.1)
- Berry, C., Xu, H. and Stein, W. E. 2015. How did Devonian cladoxylopsids grow?. Presented at: Linnean Society Palaeobotany Specialist Group, Linnean Society, Burlington House, London, 23 November 2015.
- Berry, C. and Stein, W. E. 2015. Applications of photogrammetry to palaeobotany. Presented at: Linnean Society Palaeobotany Specialist Group, Linnean Society, Burlington House, London, 23 November 2015.
- Morris, J. et al. 2015. Investigating Devonian trees as geo-engineers of past climates: linking palaeosols to palaeobotany and experimental geobiology. Palaeontology 58(5), pp. 787-801. (10.1111/pala.12185)
- Giesen, P. and Berry, C. M. 2015. A reassessment of the Lindlar Flora (Devonian, Mid Eifelian), Germany. Presented at: IGCP596-SDS Symposium, Brussels, Belgium, 21-22 September 2015.
2014
- Xu, H., Marshall, J. E. A., Wang, Y., Zhu, H., Berry, C. M. and Wellman, C. H. 2014. Devonian spores from an intra-oceanic volcanic arc, West Junggar (Xinjiang, China) and the palaeogeographical significance of the associated fossil plant beds. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 206, pp. 10-22. (10.1016/j.revpalbo.2014.03.002)
2013
- Giesen, P. and Berry, C. M. 2013. Reconstruction and growth of the early tree Calamophyton (Pseudosporochnales, Cladoxylopsida) based on exceptionally complete specimens from Lindlar, Germany (Mid-Devonian): organic connection of Calamophyton branches and Duisbergia trunks. International Journal of Plant Sciences 174(4), pp. 665-686. (10.1086/669913)
2012
- Wellman, C. H., Zhu, H., Marshall, J. E. A., Wang, Y., Berry, C. M. and Xu, H. 2012. Spore assemblages from the Lower Devonian Xujiachong Formation from Qujing, Yunnan, China. Palaeontology 55(3), pp. 583-611. (10.1111/j.1475-4983.2012.01143.x)
- Stein, W. E., Berry, C. M., Hernick, L. V. and Mannolini, F. 2012. Surprisingly complex community discovered in the mid-Devonian fossil forest at Gilboa. Nature 483(7387), pp. 78-81. (10.1038/nature10819)
- Xu, H., Marshall, J. E. A., Berry, C. M., Wang, Y., Zhu, H. and Wellman, C. H. 2012. Mid Devonian megaspores from Yunnan and North Xinjiang, China: Their palaeogeographical and palaeoenvironmental significances. Palaeoworld 21(1), pp. 11-19. (10.1016/j.palwor.2012.02.001)
2011
- Xu, H., Berry, C. M., Wang, Y. and Marshall, J. E. A. 2011. A new species of Leclercqia Banks, Bonamo et Grierson (Lycopsida) from the Middle Devonian of north Xinjiang, China, with a possible climbing habit. International Journal of Plant Sciences 172(6), pp. 836-846. (10.1086/660195)
- Fu, Q., Wang, Y., Berry, C. M. and Xu, H. 2011. Complex branching patterns in a newly recognized species of Compsocradus Berry et Stein (Iridopteridales) from the Middle Devonian of north Xinjiang, China. International Journal of Plant Sciences 172(5), pp. 707-724. (10.1086/659453)
2010
- Astin, T. R., Marshall, J. E. A., Blom, H. and Berry, C. M. 2010. The sedimentary environment of the Late Devonian East Greenland tetrapods. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 339(1), pp. 93-109. (10.1144/SP339.9)
2008
- Xu, H., Wang, Y., Berry, C. M. and Cai, C. 2008. Two species of Haskinsia Grierson & Banks (Lycopsida) from the Middle Devonian of Xinjiang, China, and consideration of their palaeogeographical significance. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 157(4), pp. 633-644. (10.1111/j.1095-8339.2008.00840.x)
- Xu, H. and Berry, C. M. 2008. The Middle Devonian lycopsid Haskinsia Grierson et Banks from the Ruppert Coast, Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 150(1-4), pp. 1-4. (10.1016/j.revpalbo.2007.12.011)
2007
- Wang, Y., Berry, C. M., Hao, S., Xu, H. and Fu, Q. 2007. The Xichong flora of Yunnan, China: diversity in late Mid Devonian plant assemblages. Geological Journal 42(3-4), pp. 339-350. (10.1002/gj.1082)
- Stein, W. E., Mannolini, F., Hernick, L. V., Landing, E. and Berry, C. M. 2007. Giant cladoxylopsid trees resolve the enigma of the Earth's earliest forest stumps at Gilboa. Nature 446(7138), pp. 904-907. (10.1038/nature05705)
2006
- Berry, C. M. and Wang, Y. 2006. A new plant attributed to Cladoxylopsida from the Middle Devonian of Yunnan Province, China. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 142(3-4), pp. 63-78. (10.1016/j.revpalbo.2006.04.007)
- Berry, C. M. and Wang, Y. 2006. Eocladoxylon (Protopteridium) minutum (Halle) Koidzumi from the Middle Devonian of Yunnan, China: an early Rhacophyton-like plant?. International journal of plant sciences 167(3), pp. 551-566. (10.1086/501234)
- Berry, C. M. and Hilton, J. 2006. Givetian (Middle Devonian) cladoxylopsid 'ferns' from Orkney, Northern Scotland. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences 97(1), pp. 65-73. (10.1017/S0263593300001401)
2005
- Hammond, S. E. and Berry, C. M. 2005. A new species of Tetraxylopteris (Aneurophytales) from the Devonian of Venezuela. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 148(3), pp. 275-303. (10.1111/j.1095-8339.2005.00418.x)
- Berry, C. M. 2005. 'Hyenia' vogtii Hoeg from the Middle Devonian of Spitsbergen - Its morphology and systematic position. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 135(1-2), pp. 109-116. (10.1016/j.revpalbo.2005.03.001)
2003
- Wang, Y. and Berry, C. M. 2003. A novel lycopsid from the upper Devonian of Jiangsu, China. Palaeontology 46(6), pp. 1297-1311. (10.1046/j.0031-0239.2003.00342.x)
- Wang, Y. and Berry, C. M. 2003. A reconsideration of Dimeripteris cornuta SCHWEITZER and CAI, a diminutive fossil plant from the Middle Devonian of Yunnan, China. Geobios 36(4), pp. 437-446. (10.1016/S0016-6995(03)00040-8)
- Berry, C. M., Wang, Y. and Chongyang, C. 2003. A lycopsid with novel reproductive structures from the Upper Devonian of Jiangsu, China. International Journal of Plant Sciences 164(2), pp. 263-273. (10.1086/346170)
2002
- Cingolani, C. A., Berry, C. M., Morel, E. and Tomezzoli, R. 2002. Middle Devonian lycopsids from high southern palaeolatitudes of Gondwana (Argentina). Geological Magazine 139(6), pp. 641-649. (10.1017/S0016756802006957)
- Berry, C. M. and Fairon-Demaret, M. 2002. The architecture of Pseudosporochnus nodosus Leclercq et Banks: a Middle Devonian Cladoxylopsid from Belgium. International Journal of Plant Sciences 163(5), pp. 699-713. (10.1086/342037)
2001
- Wang, Y. and Berry, C. M. 2001. A new plant from the Xichong Formation (Middle Devonian), South China. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 116(1-2), pp. 73-85. (10.1016/S0034-6667(01)00064-1)
- Gensel, P. G. and Berry, C. M. 2001. Early lycophyte evolution. American Fern Journal 91(3), pp. 74-98.
2000
- Berry, C. M. 2000. A reconsideration of Wattieza Stockmans (here attributed to Cladoxylopsida) based on a new species from the Devonian of Venezuela. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 112(1-3), pp. 125-146. (10.1016/S0034-6667(00)00038-5)
- Berry, C. M. and Stein, W. E. 2000. New Iridopteridalean from the Devonian of Venezuela. International Journal of Plant Sciences 161(5), pp. 807-827. (10.1086/314295)
- Fairon-Demaret, M. and Berry, C. 2000. A reconsideration of Hyenia elegans Krausel et Weyland and Hyenia 'complexa' Leclercq: Two Middle Devonian Cladoxylopsids from western Europe. International Journal of Plant Sciences 161(3), pp. 473-494. (10.1086/314267)
- Berry, C. M., Morel, E., Mojica, J. and Villarroel, C. 2000. Devonian plants from Colombia, with discussion of their geological and palaeogeographical context. Geological Magazine 137(3), pp. 257-268.
- Edwards, D., Fairon-Demaret, M. and Berry, C. M. 2000. Plant megafossils in Devonian stratigraphy: a progress report. In: Bultynck, P. ed. Subcommission on Devonian Stratigraphy: Fossil groups important for boundary definition. Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg Vol. 220. Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbart Science Publishers, pp. 25-37.
1999
- Berry, C. M. 1999. Planting the evidence: A rum affair: How botany's "piltdown man" was unmasked [Book Review]. Nature 401(6755), pp. 742-743. (10.1038/44459)
1997
- Berry, C. M. and Fairon-Demaret, M. 1997. Reinvestigation of the cladoxylopsid Pseudosporochnus nodosus Leclercq et Banks from the middle Devonian of Goe, Belgium. International Journal of Plant Sciences 158(3), pp. 350-372. (10.1086/297447)
- Berry, C. M. and Edwards, D. 1997. A new species of the lycopsid Gilboaphyton Arnold from the Devonian of Venezuela and New York State, with a revision of the closely related genus Archaeosigillaria Kidston. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 96(1-2), pp. 47-70. (10.1016/S0034-6667(96)00015-2)
1996
- Berry, C. M. and Edwards, D. 1996. Erratum: The herbaceous lycophyte Haskinsia Grierson and Banks from the Devonian of western Venezuela, with observations on leaf morphology and fertile specimens. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 122(4), pp. 371-371. (10.1111/j.1095-8339.1996.tb02083.x)
- Berry, C. M. and Edwards, D. 1996. The herbaceous lycophyte Haskinsia Grierson and Banks from the Devonian of western Venezuela, with observations on leaf morphology and fertile specimens. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 122(2), pp. 103-122. (10.1111/j.1095-8339.1996.tb02067.x)
- Berry, C. M. and Edwards, D. 1996. Anapaulia moodyi gen et sp nov: A probable iridopteridalean compression fossil from the Devonian of western Venezuela. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 93(1-4), pp. 127-145. (10.1016/0034-6667(95)00123-9)
1995
- Berry, C. M. and Edwards, D. 1995. New species of the lycophyte Colpodexylon Banks from the Devonian of Venezuela. Palaeontographica Abteilung B -Stuttgart- 237(1-3), pp. 59-74.
1994
- Berry, C. M. and Edwards, D. 1994. New data on the morphology and anatomy of the Devonian zosterophyll Serrulacaulis Hueber and Banks from Venezuela. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 81(2-4), pp. 141-150. (10.1016/0034-6667(94)90104-X)
- Berry, C. M. 1994. First record of the Devonian lycophyte Leclercqia from South America. Geological Magazine 131(2), pp. 269-272. (10.1017/S0016756800010785)
1991
- Edwards, D. and Berry, C. M. 1991. Silurian and Devonian. In: Cleal, C. J. ed. Plant Fossils in Geological Investigation: The Palaeozoic. Ellis Horwood series in applied geology Chichester: Ellis Horwood Limited, pp. 117-153.
Articles
- Davies, N. S., McMahon, W. J. and Berry, C. M. 2024. Earth's earliest forest: fossilized trees and vegetation-induced sedimentary structures from the Middle Devonian (Eifelian) Hangman Sandstone Formation, Somerset and Devon, SW England. Journal of the Geological Society (10.1144/jgs2023-204)
- Stein, W. E., Berry, C. M., VanAller Hernick, L. and Mannolini, F. 2023. Rooting portions of a young pseudosporochnalean from the Catskill Delta complex of New York. International Journal of Plant Sciences 184(8), pp. 601-627. (10.1086/726108)
- Edwards, D., Li, C. and Berry, C. M. 2022. Lower Devonian lycophytes from Sichuan and the palaeogeographic context of coeval plant assemblages from South China. International Journal of Plant Sciences 183(6) (10.1086/720387)
- Berry, C. M., Stein, W. E. and Cordi, J. 2022. A new reconstruction of the iridopteridalean Ibyka amphikoma Skog et Banks from the Middle Devonian of Gilboa, New York State. International Journal of Plant Sciences 183(6), pp. 450-464. (10.1086/720721)
- Wellman, C. H., Berry, C. M., Davies, N. S., Lindemann, F., Marshall, J. E. A. and Wyatt, A. 2022. Low tropical diversity during the adaptive radiation of early land plants. Nature Plants 8(2), pp. 104–109. (10.1038/s41477-021-01067-w)
- Davies, N. S., Berry, C. M., Marshall, J. E. A., Wellman, C. H. and Lindemann, F. 2021. The Devonian Landscape Factory: plant-sediment interactions in the Old Red Sandstone of Svalbard and the rise of vegetation as a biogeomorphic agent. Journal of the Geological Society 178, article number: jgs2020-225. (10.1144/jgs2020-225)
- Hetherington, A. J., Berry, C. M. and Dolan, L. 2020. Multiple origins of dichotomous and lateral branching during root evolution. Nature Plants 6, pp. 454-459. (10.1038/s41477-020-0646-y)
- Stein, W. E. et al. 2020. Mid-Devonian archaeopteris roots signal revolutionary change in earliest fossil forests. Current Biology 30(3), pp. 421-431.e2. (10.1016/j.cub.2019.11.067)
- Berry, C. M. 2019. The evolution of the first forests in the Devonian. Vestnik of Institute of Geology of Komi Science Center of Ural Branch RAS 11, pp. 20-24. (10.19110/2221-1381-2019-11-20-24)
- Wan, Z. et al. 2019. Environmental influences on the stable carbon isotopic composition of Devonian and Early Carboniferous land plants. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 531(A), article number: 109100. (10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.02.025)
- Berry, C. M. 2019. Palaeobotany: the rise of the earth's early forests. Current Biology 29(16), pp. R792-R794. (10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.016)
- Berry, C. M. and Gensel, P. G. 2019. Late Mid Devonian Sawdonia (Zosterophyllopsida) from Venezuela. International Journal of Plant Sciences 180(6), pp. 540-557. (10.1086/702940)
- Zhang, Y., Berry, C. M., Wang, D., Xue, J. and Liu, L. 2018. Pleurorhizoxylon yixingense gen. et sp. nov., a Euphyllophyte Axis with Anatomically Preserved Adventitious Roots from the Late Devonian of South China. International Journal of Plant Sciences 179(7), pp. 523-540. (10.1086/698710)
- Xu, H., Berry, C. M., Stein, W. E., Wang, Y., Tang, P. and Fu, Q. 2017. Unique growth strategy in the Earth's first trees revealed in silicified fossil trunks from China. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114(45), pp. 12009-12014. (10.1073/pnas.1708241114)
- Gensel, P. and Berry, C. M. 2016. Sporangial morphology of the early devonian zosterophyll sawdonia ornata from the type locality (gaspé).. International Journal of Plant Sciences 177(7), pp. 618-632.
- Hetherington, A. J., Berry, C. M. and Dolan, L. 2016. Networks of highly branched stigmarian rootlets developed on the first giant trees. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113(24), pp. 6695-6700. (10.1073/pnas.1514427113)
- Berry, C. M. and Marshall, J. E. A. 2015. Lycopsid forests in the early Late Devonian paleoequatorial zone of Svalbard. Geology 43(12), pp. 1043-1046. (10.1130/G37000.1)
- Morris, J. et al. 2015. Investigating Devonian trees as geo-engineers of past climates: linking palaeosols to palaeobotany and experimental geobiology. Palaeontology 58(5), pp. 787-801. (10.1111/pala.12185)
- Xu, H., Marshall, J. E. A., Wang, Y., Zhu, H., Berry, C. M. and Wellman, C. H. 2014. Devonian spores from an intra-oceanic volcanic arc, West Junggar (Xinjiang, China) and the palaeogeographical significance of the associated fossil plant beds. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 206, pp. 10-22. (10.1016/j.revpalbo.2014.03.002)
- Giesen, P. and Berry, C. M. 2013. Reconstruction and growth of the early tree Calamophyton (Pseudosporochnales, Cladoxylopsida) based on exceptionally complete specimens from Lindlar, Germany (Mid-Devonian): organic connection of Calamophyton branches and Duisbergia trunks. International Journal of Plant Sciences 174(4), pp. 665-686. (10.1086/669913)
- Wellman, C. H., Zhu, H., Marshall, J. E. A., Wang, Y., Berry, C. M. and Xu, H. 2012. Spore assemblages from the Lower Devonian Xujiachong Formation from Qujing, Yunnan, China. Palaeontology 55(3), pp. 583-611. (10.1111/j.1475-4983.2012.01143.x)
- Stein, W. E., Berry, C. M., Hernick, L. V. and Mannolini, F. 2012. Surprisingly complex community discovered in the mid-Devonian fossil forest at Gilboa. Nature 483(7387), pp. 78-81. (10.1038/nature10819)
- Xu, H., Marshall, J. E. A., Berry, C. M., Wang, Y., Zhu, H. and Wellman, C. H. 2012. Mid Devonian megaspores from Yunnan and North Xinjiang, China: Their palaeogeographical and palaeoenvironmental significances. Palaeoworld 21(1), pp. 11-19. (10.1016/j.palwor.2012.02.001)
- Xu, H., Berry, C. M., Wang, Y. and Marshall, J. E. A. 2011. A new species of Leclercqia Banks, Bonamo et Grierson (Lycopsida) from the Middle Devonian of north Xinjiang, China, with a possible climbing habit. International Journal of Plant Sciences 172(6), pp. 836-846. (10.1086/660195)
- Fu, Q., Wang, Y., Berry, C. M. and Xu, H. 2011. Complex branching patterns in a newly recognized species of Compsocradus Berry et Stein (Iridopteridales) from the Middle Devonian of north Xinjiang, China. International Journal of Plant Sciences 172(5), pp. 707-724. (10.1086/659453)
- Astin, T. R., Marshall, J. E. A., Blom, H. and Berry, C. M. 2010. The sedimentary environment of the Late Devonian East Greenland tetrapods. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 339(1), pp. 93-109. (10.1144/SP339.9)
- Xu, H., Wang, Y., Berry, C. M. and Cai, C. 2008. Two species of Haskinsia Grierson & Banks (Lycopsida) from the Middle Devonian of Xinjiang, China, and consideration of their palaeogeographical significance. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 157(4), pp. 633-644. (10.1111/j.1095-8339.2008.00840.x)
- Xu, H. and Berry, C. M. 2008. The Middle Devonian lycopsid Haskinsia Grierson et Banks from the Ruppert Coast, Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 150(1-4), pp. 1-4. (10.1016/j.revpalbo.2007.12.011)
- Wang, Y., Berry, C. M., Hao, S., Xu, H. and Fu, Q. 2007. The Xichong flora of Yunnan, China: diversity in late Mid Devonian plant assemblages. Geological Journal 42(3-4), pp. 339-350. (10.1002/gj.1082)
- Stein, W. E., Mannolini, F., Hernick, L. V., Landing, E. and Berry, C. M. 2007. Giant cladoxylopsid trees resolve the enigma of the Earth's earliest forest stumps at Gilboa. Nature 446(7138), pp. 904-907. (10.1038/nature05705)
- Berry, C. M. and Wang, Y. 2006. A new plant attributed to Cladoxylopsida from the Middle Devonian of Yunnan Province, China. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 142(3-4), pp. 63-78. (10.1016/j.revpalbo.2006.04.007)
- Berry, C. M. and Wang, Y. 2006. Eocladoxylon (Protopteridium) minutum (Halle) Koidzumi from the Middle Devonian of Yunnan, China: an early Rhacophyton-like plant?. International journal of plant sciences 167(3), pp. 551-566. (10.1086/501234)
- Berry, C. M. and Hilton, J. 2006. Givetian (Middle Devonian) cladoxylopsid 'ferns' from Orkney, Northern Scotland. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences 97(1), pp. 65-73. (10.1017/S0263593300001401)
- Hammond, S. E. and Berry, C. M. 2005. A new species of Tetraxylopteris (Aneurophytales) from the Devonian of Venezuela. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 148(3), pp. 275-303. (10.1111/j.1095-8339.2005.00418.x)
- Berry, C. M. 2005. 'Hyenia' vogtii Hoeg from the Middle Devonian of Spitsbergen - Its morphology and systematic position. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 135(1-2), pp. 109-116. (10.1016/j.revpalbo.2005.03.001)
- Wang, Y. and Berry, C. M. 2003. A novel lycopsid from the upper Devonian of Jiangsu, China. Palaeontology 46(6), pp. 1297-1311. (10.1046/j.0031-0239.2003.00342.x)
- Wang, Y. and Berry, C. M. 2003. A reconsideration of Dimeripteris cornuta SCHWEITZER and CAI, a diminutive fossil plant from the Middle Devonian of Yunnan, China. Geobios 36(4), pp. 437-446. (10.1016/S0016-6995(03)00040-8)
- Berry, C. M., Wang, Y. and Chongyang, C. 2003. A lycopsid with novel reproductive structures from the Upper Devonian of Jiangsu, China. International Journal of Plant Sciences 164(2), pp. 263-273. (10.1086/346170)
- Cingolani, C. A., Berry, C. M., Morel, E. and Tomezzoli, R. 2002. Middle Devonian lycopsids from high southern palaeolatitudes of Gondwana (Argentina). Geological Magazine 139(6), pp. 641-649. (10.1017/S0016756802006957)
- Berry, C. M. and Fairon-Demaret, M. 2002. The architecture of Pseudosporochnus nodosus Leclercq et Banks: a Middle Devonian Cladoxylopsid from Belgium. International Journal of Plant Sciences 163(5), pp. 699-713. (10.1086/342037)
- Wang, Y. and Berry, C. M. 2001. A new plant from the Xichong Formation (Middle Devonian), South China. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 116(1-2), pp. 73-85. (10.1016/S0034-6667(01)00064-1)
- Gensel, P. G. and Berry, C. M. 2001. Early lycophyte evolution. American Fern Journal 91(3), pp. 74-98.
- Berry, C. M. 2000. A reconsideration of Wattieza Stockmans (here attributed to Cladoxylopsida) based on a new species from the Devonian of Venezuela. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 112(1-3), pp. 125-146. (10.1016/S0034-6667(00)00038-5)
- Berry, C. M. and Stein, W. E. 2000. New Iridopteridalean from the Devonian of Venezuela. International Journal of Plant Sciences 161(5), pp. 807-827. (10.1086/314295)
- Fairon-Demaret, M. and Berry, C. 2000. A reconsideration of Hyenia elegans Krausel et Weyland and Hyenia 'complexa' Leclercq: Two Middle Devonian Cladoxylopsids from western Europe. International Journal of Plant Sciences 161(3), pp. 473-494. (10.1086/314267)
- Berry, C. M., Morel, E., Mojica, J. and Villarroel, C. 2000. Devonian plants from Colombia, with discussion of their geological and palaeogeographical context. Geological Magazine 137(3), pp. 257-268.
- Berry, C. M. 1999. Planting the evidence: A rum affair: How botany's "piltdown man" was unmasked [Book Review]. Nature 401(6755), pp. 742-743. (10.1038/44459)
- Berry, C. M. and Fairon-Demaret, M. 1997. Reinvestigation of the cladoxylopsid Pseudosporochnus nodosus Leclercq et Banks from the middle Devonian of Goe, Belgium. International Journal of Plant Sciences 158(3), pp. 350-372. (10.1086/297447)
- Berry, C. M. and Edwards, D. 1997. A new species of the lycopsid Gilboaphyton Arnold from the Devonian of Venezuela and New York State, with a revision of the closely related genus Archaeosigillaria Kidston. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 96(1-2), pp. 47-70. (10.1016/S0034-6667(96)00015-2)
- Berry, C. M. and Edwards, D. 1996. Erratum: The herbaceous lycophyte Haskinsia Grierson and Banks from the Devonian of western Venezuela, with observations on leaf morphology and fertile specimens. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 122(4), pp. 371-371. (10.1111/j.1095-8339.1996.tb02083.x)
- Berry, C. M. and Edwards, D. 1996. The herbaceous lycophyte Haskinsia Grierson and Banks from the Devonian of western Venezuela, with observations on leaf morphology and fertile specimens. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 122(2), pp. 103-122. (10.1111/j.1095-8339.1996.tb02067.x)
- Berry, C. M. and Edwards, D. 1996. Anapaulia moodyi gen et sp nov: A probable iridopteridalean compression fossil from the Devonian of western Venezuela. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 93(1-4), pp. 127-145. (10.1016/0034-6667(95)00123-9)
- Berry, C. M. and Edwards, D. 1995. New species of the lycophyte Colpodexylon Banks from the Devonian of Venezuela. Palaeontographica Abteilung B -Stuttgart- 237(1-3), pp. 59-74.
- Berry, C. M. and Edwards, D. 1994. New data on the morphology and anatomy of the Devonian zosterophyll Serrulacaulis Hueber and Banks from Venezuela. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 81(2-4), pp. 141-150. (10.1016/0034-6667(94)90104-X)
- Berry, C. M. 1994. First record of the Devonian lycophyte Leclercqia from South America. Geological Magazine 131(2), pp. 269-272. (10.1017/S0016756800010785)
Book sections
- Edwards, D., Fairon-Demaret, M. and Berry, C. M. 2000. Plant megafossils in Devonian stratigraphy: a progress report. In: Bultynck, P. ed. Subcommission on Devonian Stratigraphy: Fossil groups important for boundary definition. Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg Vol. 220. Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbart Science Publishers, pp. 25-37.
- Edwards, D. and Berry, C. M. 1991. Silurian and Devonian. In: Cleal, C. J. ed. Plant Fossils in Geological Investigation: The Palaeozoic. Ellis Horwood series in applied geology Chichester: Ellis Horwood Limited, pp. 117-153.
Conferences
- Berry, C., Xu, H. and Stein, W. E. 2015. How did Devonian cladoxylopsids grow?. Presented at: Linnean Society Palaeobotany Specialist Group, Linnean Society, Burlington House, London, 23 November 2015.
- Berry, C. and Stein, W. E. 2015. Applications of photogrammetry to palaeobotany. Presented at: Linnean Society Palaeobotany Specialist Group, Linnean Society, Burlington House, London, 23 November 2015.
- Giesen, P. and Berry, C. M. 2015. A reassessment of the Lindlar Flora (Devonian, Mid Eifelian), Germany. Presented at: IGCP596-SDS Symposium, Brussels, Belgium, 21-22 September 2015.
Research
I study the diversification, evolution and impact of the evolution of large land plants in the Devonian Period, 420-360 million years ago. I am interested in rare ‘fossil forests’ which tell us about ancient terrestrial ecology. My knowledge is informed by an extensive fieldwork programme, and first-hand knowledge of the major collections of Devonian plants in museums around the world.
See impact tab for some podcasts and videos.
Current projects
1) Culture and Education Department of the UK Embassy «University Alliance» British Council
How did the environment react to climate change during the Devonian time in the European part of the Arctic?
Komi Republic Science Centre / Olga Tel'nova
2) Chinese Academy of Sciences
Study on Xinjiang Late Devonian tree-like plants anatomy and growth pattern
Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology / Prof Honghe Xu
Teaching
Year 1: Life and Earth History
Year 2: Sedimentary Geology and Environments; Carbonate Sedimentology
Year 3: Palaeobiology
Residential Field Trips: Pembrokeshire (Palaeozoic); Dorset (Mesozoic).
Biography
- Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Earth and Environmental Sciences - School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University (1998-present)
- University of Wales Research Fellow, Cardiff University (1996-1998)
- Royal Society Exchange Fellowship, Liège University (1994-1995)
- PhD - Devonian Plant Fossils from Venezuela, Geology Department, University of Wales Cardiff (1993)
- BA Earth Sciences – Cambridge University (1989)
Honours and awards
Prix Suzanne Leclercq
Professional memberships
Paleontological Association
Linnean Society
Committees and reviewing
International
Supervisions
Palaeozoic Palaeoenvironments and Palaeobotany
Impact
A 15 minute 'Lunchtime Lockdown Lecture' video about how we reconstruct the Earth's first forests:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcED56vPda0
A 40 minute public lecture about the origin of forests in the Devonian Period, given in Cardiff December 2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwkbePIWeIU
A video about fieldwork at the famous Gilboa fossil forest, Mid Devonian age, New York State, as written up in Nature 2012. Please set the screen resolution to 720p (use the settings tab at the bottom right) to get the correct screen proportions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M0j4ZdaJF8
Our entry in the Guinness Book of World Records:
Oldest fossilized forest | Guinness World Records
In Defense of Plants podcast - research about the earliest forests. From February 2020.
http://www.indefenseofplants.com/podcast/2020/2/23/ep-253-earths-first-forests
An interview with Catskill Mountain Radio about the fossil forests of upstate New York.
https://fromtheforest.podbean.com/e/ancient-fossil-forests-of-the-catskills-with-dr-chris-berry/
Radio Ecoshock interview about how the Earth's oldest trees grew:
https://www.ecoshock.org/2017/11/things-ripping-apart-to-grow.html
