Analysis of the differential response of five annuals to elevated CO sub 2 during growth

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Ecology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1937386· OSTI ID:6318625

Garbutt, K ^[1]; Williams, W E ^[2]; Bazzaz, F A ^[3]

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1. West Virginia Univ., Morgantown (USA)
2. St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary's City (USA)
3. Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (USA)

In order to investigate the effects, without competition, of CO{sub 2} on germination, growth, physiological response, and reproduction, the authors focussed on co-occurring species that are prominent members of an annual community in Illinois. Five species of old field annual plants - Abutilon theophrasti (C{sub 3}), Amaranthus retroflexus (C{sub 4}), Ambrosia artemisiifolia (C{sub 3}), Chenopodium album (C{sub 3}), and Setaria faberii (C{sub 4}) - were grown for their entire life cycle as individuals at CO{sub 2} concentration of 350 {mu}L/O, 500 {mu}L/L, and 700 {mu}L/L. Emergence time, growth rate, shoot water status, photosynthesis, conductance, flowering time, nitrogen content, and biomass and reproductive biomass were measured. There was no detectable effect of enhanced CO{sub 2} on timing of emergency in any of the species. The three levels of carbon dioxide concentration were shown to produce varying effects on remaining quantities measured in the five different plants. Some of these differences were not statistically significant. The response of most characters had a significant species {times} CO{sub 2} interaction. However, this was not simply caused by the C{sub 3}/C{sub 4} dichotomy. Reproductive biomass (seed, fruits, and flowers) increased with increasing CO{sub 2} in Amaranthus (C{sub 4}) and in Chenopodium and Ambrosia (both C{sub 3}), but there was no change in Setaria (C{sub 4}), and Abutilon (C{sub 3}) showed a peak at 500 {mu}L/L. Species of the same community differed in their response to CO{sub 2}, and these differences may help explain the outcome of competitive interactions among these species above ambient CO{sub 2} levels.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-84ER60257
• OSTI ID: 6318625
• Journal Information: Ecology; (USA), Vol. 71:3; ISSN 0012-9658
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
CARBON DIOXIDE
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PLANTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOMASS
FLOWERS
LIFE CYCLE
NITROGEN
PLANT GROWTH
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
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CHALCOGENIDES
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ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
GROWTH
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SYNTHESIS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
540120 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
010900 - Coal
Lignite
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