In situ responses to elevated CO2 in tropical forest understorey plants

Abstract

1. Plants growing in deep shade and high temperature, such as in the understorey of humid tropical forests, have been predicted to be particularly sensitive to rising atmospheric CO2. We tested this hypothesis in five species whose microhabitat quantum flux density (QFD) was documented as a covariable. After 7 (tree seedlings of Tachigalia versicolor and Beilschmiedia pendula) and 18 months (shrubs Piper cordulatum and Psychotria limonensis, and grass Pharus latifolius) of elevated CO2 treatment (c. 700 μl litre–1) under mean QFD of less than 11 μmol m–2 s–1, all species produced more biomass (25–76%) under elevated CO2. 2. Total plant biomass tended to increase with microhabitat QFD (daytime means varying from 5 to 11μmol m–2 s–1) but the relative stimulation by elevated CO2 was higher at low QFD except in Pharus. 3. Non‐structural carbohydrate concentrations in leaves increased significantly in Pharus (+ 27%) and Tachigalia (+ 40%). 4. The data support the hypothesis that tropical plants growing near the photosynthetic light compensation point are responsive to elevated CO2. An improved plant carbon balance in deep shade is likely to influence understorey plant recruitment and competition as atmospheric CO2 continues to rise.