Response of unmanaged ecosystems. Volume II. Part 12 of environmental and societal consequences of a possible CO/sub 2/-induced climate change

Technical Report · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:7074625

Strain, B R; Armentano, T V

It is sometimes claimed that the increasing concentration of atmospheric CO/sub 2/ will increase the rate of global carbon storage by increasing the rate of photosynthesis and of biomass production. This is doubtful because the rate of biomass production already is generally limited by factors other than CO/sub 2/ concentration, such as water, light, nutrients (especially N), and habitat space. Thus, although there may be some increase in net photosynthesis in some ecosystems the increase probably will not be converted into stored carbon because it probably will be accompanied by increased decomposition. A reliable estimate of possible changes in carbon storage requires information concerning the entire metabolic pathway of carbon in ecosystems. This will necessitate additional research on ecosystem metabolism, including net primary production and heterotrophic respiration. Thus, current projections of global carbon cycling which include increases in the storage of carbon (..beta.. factor of Bacastow and Keeling 1973) are to be questioned. It is our opinion that the ..beta.. factor concept is ill-conceived. Although increase in CO/sub 2/ concentration probably will not cause important changes in global carbon storage it may cause changes in the species composition of ecosystems by changing relative rates of growth of the various species. However, it is impossible to predict from present information whether the changes in species composition will increase or decrease ecosystem productivity. Thus more research is needed on the effects of increased CO/sub 2/ on the principal species of various ecosystems.

• Research Organization: Duke Univ., Durham, NC (USA); Institute of Ecology, Indianapolis, IN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AS01-79EV10019
• OSTI ID: 7074625
• Report Number(s): DOE/EV/10019-12-Vol.2; ON: DE83002886
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON CYCLE
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PRODUCTIVITY
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SINKS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS