Successional status, seed size, and responses of tree seedlings to CO[sub 2], light, and nutrients

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Ecology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1939505· OSTI ID:6500679

Bazzaz, F A; Miao, S L ^[1]

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1. Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (United States)

We studied how an enriched CO[sub 2] atmosphere, in a fully crossed design of light and nutrients, influenced 1 st-yr seedling growth in six New England deciduous forest tree species. The species, in the order of increasing shade tolerance, were gray birch (Betula populifolia), ash (Fraxinus ainericana L.), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), red oak (Carcass rubra L.), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton), and striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum). Elevated CO[sub 2] environments significantly stimulated the seedling growth of all six species. Generally this was more pronounced in low light. The greatest stimulation was found under the condition of low light and high nutrients. However, individual species responded differently to elevated CO[sub 2] levels. Among the three early-successional species, gray birch, ash, and red maple, a significant increase in seedling growth under elevated CO[sub 2] conditions was found only with high nutrients. The three late-successional species grown under elevated CO[sub 2] conditions (red oak, yellow birch, and striped maple) showed a greater percentage increase in seedling growth in low light than in high light. Thus, for the early-successional species, the degree of enhancement of seedling growth by elevated CO[sub 2] levels was more sensitive to nutrient levels, while in the late-successional species the enhancement was more sensitive to the level of light. Moreover, species with large seeds (e.g., red oak) exhibited a greater response to elevated CO[sub 2] levels under low light than species with small seeds (e.g., gray birch). The results emphasize the importance of plant species as well as other environmental resources in modifying the response of plants to elevated CO[sub 2]. Considering the light and nutrient environment observed in forest gaps of various sizes, the results of the present experiment suggest seedling regeneration in New England deciduous forests may be altered in a future high CO[sub 2] environment.

• OSTI ID: 6500679
• Journal Information: Ecology; (United States), Vol. 74:1; ISSN 0012-9658
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIRCHES
PLANT GROWTH
CARBON DIOXIDE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
MAPLES
OAKS
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
CLIMATIC CHANGE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FORESTS
NUTRIENTS
SEEDLINGS
SEEDS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TREES
VISIBLE RADIATION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
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ECOSYSTEMS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GROWTH
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
RADIATIONS
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