The allometry of root production and root loss in Acer rubrum and Betula papyrifera seedings is not affected by elevated atmospheric CO{sub 2}

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America

OSTI ID:107089

Berntson, G M; Bazzaz, F A ^[1]

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

To study the effect of an elevated CO{sub 2} atmosphere on the dynamics of fine root production and loss, seedlings of Acer rubrum and Betula papyrifera were grown in growth containers that allowed for the non-destructive observation of roots. Plants were germinated and grown in either ambient (400 {mu}l l{sup {minus}1}) or elevated (700 {mu}l l{sup {minus}1}) atmospheric CO{sub 2}. Following transplanting, all visible roots were traced onto acetate sheets at 9 day intervals for approximately two month. Plants were harvested at three times through the course of the experiment to derive correction factors for the amount of root present at the surface of the growth containers. Elevated CO{sub 2} resulted in significant increases in the above and belowground growth of Betula but not Acer. Similarly, gross production and gross loss of roots was increased with elevated CO{sub 2} for Betula but not for Acer. The slope of a model II linear regression between root production and root loss was not significantly affected by CO{sub 2}, species or by ontogeny. Thus, root loss appears to scale directly with root production. When elevated CO{sub 2} leads to increases in root production, we can expect that root loss is also increased.

• OSTI ID: 107089
• Report Number(s): CONF-9507129--
• Journal Information: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, Journal Name: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 76; ISSN BECLAG; ISSN 0012-9623
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIRCHES
CARBON DIOXIDE
MAPLES
ROOTS