Effects of elevated CO{sub 2} on Chesapeake Bay wetlands. [Progress report, 1988--1989]
Research during 1988--89 focused on several new aspects of the response of the salt marsh ecosystem to elevated CO{sub 2}. In previous years we gave highest priority to studies of the effect of CO{sub 2} on biomass production into above and below-ground tissues, nitrogen content, light response of photosynthesis of single leaves, leaf water potential and carbon dioxide and water vapor exchange between the plant canopy and the ambient air. Result from the work in 87 and 88 had shown that the C3 plant, Scirpus olneyi, responded vigorously to elevated CO{sub 2} but the two C4 species, Spartina patens and Distichlis spicata did not. The responses of photosynthesis were also reflected in the canopy and ecosystem processes. Thus our emphasis shifted from determining the growth responses to exploring photosynthesis in greater detail. The main questions were: does acclimation to high CO{sub 2} involve reduction of some aspect of photosynthesis either at the single leaf level or in canopy structure? How much more carbon will be accumulated in a high CO{sub 2} than under present CO{sub 2} concentration? Our results give us partial answers to these questions but since the long term aspect of CO{sub 2} stimulation remains the most important one, it is unlikely that we can do more than add some pieces of data to a continuing debate in the ecological community regarding the eventual effect of CO{sub 2} on ecosystems.
- Research Organization:
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG05-85ER60374
- OSTI ID:
- 10174901
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/60374--T5; ON: DE93019593
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Effects of elevated CO/sub 2/ on canopy gas exchange in a Chesapeake Bay salt marsh. [Spartina patens; Scirpus olneyi; Distichlis spicata]
Elevated atmospheric CO sub 2 effects on belowground processes in C sub 3 and C sub 4 estuarine marsh communities. [S. Spartina]
Related Subjects
140505
550500
560300
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOMASS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CHEMICALS METABOLISM AND TOXICOLOGY
METABOLISM
PHOTOCHEMICAL, PHOTOBIOLOGICAL, AND THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PLANT GROWTH
PROGRESS REPORT
SPROUTING
UPTAKE