Premium
Effects of long‐term elevated [CO 2 ] from natural CO 2 springs on Nardus stricta : photosynthesis, biochemistry, growth and phenology
Author(s) -
Cook A. C.,
Tissue D. T.,
Roberts S. W.,
Oechel W. C.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3040.1998.00285.x
Subject(s) - photosynthesis , rubisco , phenology , grassland , botany , ecosystem , growing season , photosynthetic capacity , biology , chlorophyll , agronomy , plant physiology , ecology
Plants of Nardus stricta growing near a cold, naturally emitting CO 2 spring in Iceland were used to investigate the long‐term (> 100 years) effects of elevated [CO 2 ] on photosynthesis, biochemistry, growth and phenology in a northern grassland ecosystem. Comparisons were made between plants growing in an atmosphere naturally enriched with CO 2 (≈ 790 μ mol mol –1 ) near the CO 2 spring and plants of the same species growing in adjacent areas exposed to ambient CO 2 concentrations (≈360 μ mol mol –1 ). Nardus stricta growing near the spring exhibited earlier senescence and reductions in photosynthetic capacity (≈25%), Rubisco content (≈26%), Rubisco activity (≈40%), Rubisco activation state (≈23%), chlorophyll content (≈33%) and leaf area index (≈22%) compared with plants growing away from the spring. The potential positive effects of elevated [CO 2 ] on grassland ecosystems in Iceland are likely to be reduced by strong down‐regulation in the photosynthetic apparatus of the abundant N. stricta species.