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Experimental confirmation of ecosystem model predictions comparing transient and equilibrium plant responses to elevated atmospheric CO 2
Author(s) -
Newton P.C.D.,
Clark H.,
Edwards G.R.,
Ross D.J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1461-0248.2001.00233.x
Subject(s) - biogeochemical cycle , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , ecosystem , term (time) , transient (computer programming) , ecology , ecosystem model , biology , physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , operating system
Ecosystem models predict that short‐term responses to elevated atmospheric CO 2 may differ substantially from the “real” long‐term responses expected at equilibrium. Experimental validation of these model predictions is difficult as the data available are from short‐term studies that do not include biogeochemical feedbacks typical of long‐term exposure. Using a reciprocal transplant design at a natural CO 2 spring, we generated combinations of atmospheric and soil conditions that represented both short‐ and long‐term elevated CO 2 conditions. Plant responses were significantly different between these treatments, confirming model predictions that there is not a simple relationship between transient and equilibrium responses to elevated CO 2 .