Will a breakdown in nutrient cycling limit the long-term response of forested systems to elevated CO[sub 2] and climate change

Conference · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States)

OSTI ID:7264879

Johnson, M G ^[1]

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1. Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR (United States)

Rising atmospheric CO[sub 2] and climate change may have dramatic effects of forested systems. Under elevated CO[sub 2] most forest species increase their allocation of C to roots to acquire additional resources for growth. A large portion of photosynthate is released belowground through root turnover, root exudates, or symbiotic exchange. This injection of C belowground may stimulate the mineralization of soil organic matter and mineral weathering; increasing nutrient availability and plant growth in the short-term. It is uncertain, however, what the long-term effects on nutrient cycling will be. Will supply keep pace with demand Will CO[sub 2] stimulated mineralization be short-lived Will the breakdown in nutrient cycling ultimately limit the biospheric response to elevated CO[sub 2] Initial results from long-term CO[sub 2] exposure studies indicate that increased nutrient use efficiencies and increase nutrient supplies may sustain the CO[sub 2] effect in the short-term. It is likely, however, that in the long-term, nutrient supplies will eventually limit the growth response to elevated CO[sub 2] in forested systems.

• OSTI ID: 7264879
• Report Number(s): CONF-940894--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States) Journal Volume: 75:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON CYCLE
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATIC CHANGE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FORESTS
NUTRIENTS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS