Do slow‐growing species and nutrient‐stressed plants respond relatively strongly to elevated CO 2 ?

Mainly based on a simulation model, Lloyd & Farquhar (1996; Functional Ecology , 10, 4–32) predict that inherently slow‐growing species and nutrient‐stressed plants show a relatively strong growth response to an increased atmospheric CO 2 concentration. Compiling published experiments, I conclude that these predictions are not supported by the available data. On average, inherently fast‐growing species are stimulated proportionately more in biomass than slow‐growing species and plants grown at a high nutrient supply respond more strongly than nutrient‐stressed plants.