Primary Plant Production during Increasing Global CO2 Concentration

Abstract

During the 3,400 million years photosynthesizing organisms have existed on Earth, the global atmospheric CO2 concentration has not been constant. Plants have modified and are in turn influenced by atmospheric CO2 concentration. In the last 100 years the global CO2 concentration has increased from a pre-industrial level of about 280 ppm to the present 340 ppm. Further increases are expected to lead to a doubling or even a several-fold increase of atmospheric CO2 during the next one or two centuries. These elevated CO2 concentrations are expected to affect the productivity and modify the global climate. An overview of the plant processes which are likely to be affected are presented. The implication of the changes in CO2 concentration for photosynthesis is discussed. A research technique which can be used to study the influence of elevated atmospheric CO2 on managed and unmanaged plant communities is outlined.