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Title: Demographic changes in a calcareous grassland community under elevated CO{sub 2}

Abstract

Increasing atmospheric CO{sub 2} has the potential to change community composition and canopy structure. To test this hypothesis a long-term CO{sub 2} field experiment using open top chambers with ambient and elevated (600ml 1{sup -1}) CO{sub 2} was started in March 1994 in a calcareous grassland in the Swiss Jura mountains. Potential changes in plant cover in the first year of exposure were non-destructively assessed by point intercept measurements (n=8). Biomass was harvested in June. After 3 months of exposure, no differences in either cover or biomass between the treatments were observed. Point intercept measurements showed that the fraction of legumes in the sward was 16% lower under elevated CO{sub 2} and the only group that showed a positive response on CO{sub 2} was Carex spp. (+30%). Measurements of leaf development on Carex flacca showed an increase in leaf growth by 32% and in final leaf length by 22% in elevated CO{sub 2}. The biomass harvest showed similar trends for Carex and legumes biomass. These findings show that a change in atmospheric CO{sub 2} concentrations may lead to changes in species composition of a grassland community within relatively short time and that legumes do not seem to profit from elevatedmore » CO{sub 2} in this community as has generally been hypothesized.« less

Authors:
; ;  [1]
  1. Universitaet Basel (Switzerland)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
95876
Report Number(s):
CONF-9507129-
Journal ID: BECLAG; ISSN 0012-9623; TRN: 95:004728-0144
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 76; Journal 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
Subject:
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, APPLIED STUDIES; CARBON DIOXIDE; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION; RANGELANDS; SPECIES DIVERSITY; POPULATION DYNAMICS; FIELD TESTS

Citation Formats

Roetzel, C, Leadley, P W, and Koerner, C. Demographic changes in a calcareous grassland community under elevated CO{sub 2}. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Roetzel, C, Leadley, P W, & Koerner, C. Demographic changes in a calcareous grassland community under elevated CO{sub 2}. United States.
Roetzel, C, Leadley, P W, and Koerner, C. 1995. "Demographic changes in a calcareous grassland community under elevated CO{sub 2}". United States.
@article{osti_95876,
title = {Demographic changes in a calcareous grassland community under elevated CO{sub 2}},
author = {Roetzel, C and Leadley, P W and Koerner, C},
abstractNote = {Increasing atmospheric CO{sub 2} has the potential to change community composition and canopy structure. To test this hypothesis a long-term CO{sub 2} field experiment using open top chambers with ambient and elevated (600ml 1{sup -1}) CO{sub 2} was started in March 1994 in a calcareous grassland in the Swiss Jura mountains. Potential changes in plant cover in the first year of exposure were non-destructively assessed by point intercept measurements (n=8). Biomass was harvested in June. After 3 months of exposure, no differences in either cover or biomass between the treatments were observed. Point intercept measurements showed that the fraction of legumes in the sward was 16% lower under elevated CO{sub 2} and the only group that showed a positive response on CO{sub 2} was Carex spp. (+30%). Measurements of leaf development on Carex flacca showed an increase in leaf growth by 32% and in final leaf length by 22% in elevated CO{sub 2}. The biomass harvest showed similar trends for Carex and legumes biomass. These findings show that a change in atmospheric CO{sub 2} concentrations may lead to changes in species composition of a grassland community within relatively short time and that legumes do not seem to profit from elevated CO{sub 2} in this community as has generally been hypothesized.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/95876}, journal = {Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America},
number = 2,
volume = 76,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995},
month = {Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995}
}