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Title: Effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and temperature on soil respiration in Douglas fir seedling systems

Journal Article · · Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America
OSTI ID:95832
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States)
  2. Environmental Research Lab., Corvallis, OR (United States); and others

We investigated the effect of CO{sub 2} enrichment and temperature increase on root respiration, litter decomposition, consumption of soil organic matter, and overall soil respiration. Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings were being grown in the US EPA global climate change facility in Corvallis at two atmospheric CO{sub 2} concentrations and two temperatures. Soil-respired CO{sub 2} was collected for carbon and oxygen isotope analysis. Litter and new roots were also collected for carbon isotope analyses, and litter and root water were collected for oxygen isotope analyses. Isotope data were used to distinguish the sources of CO{sub 2} between root respiration, litter decomposition, and consumption of soil organic matter. Our results indicated that elevated CO{sub 2} and temperature increased soil respiration, and there was an interaction between CO{sub 2} and temperature. Elevated temperature increased only litter decomposition rate at ambient CO{sub 2}, but both root respiration and litter decomposition at elevated CO{sub 2}. Consumption of soil organic matter was a significant source for soil-respired CO{sub 2}, especially at elevated CO{sub 2}.

OSTI ID:
95832
Report Number(s):
CONF-9507129-; ISSN 0012-9623; TRN: 95:004728-0097
Journal Information:
Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, Vol. 76, Issue 2; Conference: 80. anniversary of the transdisciplinary nature of ecology, Snowbird, UT (United States), 30 Jul - 3 Aug 1995; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English