Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39961891›Full record

ArticlePhotosynthesis research2025

John Raven, FRS, FRSE: a truly great innovator in plant physiology, photosynthesis and much more.

A W D Larkum, P G Falkowski, Dianne Edwards, C B Osmond, H Lambers, P Sanchez-Baracaldo, R J Ritchie, J W Runcie, P J Ralph, M Westoby and 4 more

Abstract readHistorical Article
In one paragraph

Article in Photosynthesis research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

A W D LarkumClimate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Building 7, Thomas St, Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2009, Australia. a.larkum@sydney.edu.au.
P G FalkowskiInstitute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.
Dianne EdwardsBiology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales.
C B OsmondResearch School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
H LambersSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
P Sanchez-BaracaldoSchool of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TH, UK.
R J RitchieTechology and Environment, Prince of Songkla University Phuket, Phuket, 83120, Thailand.
J W RuncieAquation Pty Ltd, PO Box 3146, Umina Beach, NSW, 2257, Australia.
P J RalphClimate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Building 7, Thomas St, Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2009, Australia.
M WestobySchool of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, 2109, Australia.
S MaberlyCentre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK.
H GriffithsDepartment of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1TN, UK.
F A SmithUniversity of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia.
J BeardallSchool of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This is a tribute to a truly inspirational plant biologist, Prof. John A. Raven, FRS, FRSE (25th June 1941- 23rd May 2024), who died at the age of 82. He was a leader in the field of evolution and physiology of algae and land plants. His research touched on many areas including photosynthesis, ion transport, carbon utilisation, mineral use, such as silicon, iron and molybdenum, the evolution of phytoplankton, the evolution of root systems, the impact of global change, especially on the acidification of the oceans, carbon gain and water use in early land plants, and ways of detecting extraterrestrial photosynthesis. Beginning his research career in the Botany School, University of Cambridge, John studied ion uptake in a giant algal cell. This was at the time of great strides brought about by Peter Mitchell (1920-1992) in elucidating the role of energy generation in mitochondria and chloroplasts and the coupling of ion transport systems to energy generation. With Enid MacRobbie and Andrew Smith, John pioneered early work on the involvement of ion transport in the growth and metabolism of plant cells.On leaving Cambridge John took up a lectureship at the University of Dundee in 1971, where he was still attached upon his death. His primary focus over the years, with one of us (Paul Falkowski), was on phytoplankton, the photosynthetic microalgae of the oceans. Still, his publication list of 5 books and over 600 scientific papers spans a very broad range. The many highly cited papers (see Table 1) attest to an outstanding innovator, who influenced a multitude of students and coworkers and a very wide readership worldwide. At the personal level, John Raven was a wonderful human being; he had an extraordinary memory, dredging up facts and little-known scientific papers, like a scientific magician, but at the same time making humorous jokes and involving his colleagues in fun and sympathetic appreciation. Table 1 Ten best cited articles (from google scholar) Citations Date Aquatic Photosynthesis, 3rd Edition P.G. Falkowski & J.A. Raven Princeton University Press, 2013 3854 2013 The evolution of modern eukaryotic phytoplankton P.G. Falkowski, M.E. Katz, A.H. Knoll, A. Quigg, J.A. Raven, et al Science 305, 354-360 1790 2004 CO

Indexed as

BotanyPhotosynthesisPlant Physiological PhenomenaHistory, 20th CenturyHistory, 21st CenturyAlgaeEarly land plantsextraterrestrial lifeJohn A Raven: ion transportPhotosynthesisShoot-root interactions

Identifiers

PMID39961891
PMCPMC11832558

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.