Long-term Effects Of Elevated CO2 Research Articles

Long-term effects of elevated CO2 on the population dynamics of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa: Evidence from volcanic seeps

Population reconstruction techniques was used to assess for the first time the population dynamics of a seagrass, Cymodocea nodosa, exposed to long-term elevated CO2 near three volcanic seeps and compared them with reference sites away from the seeps. Under high CO2, the density of shoots and of individuals (apical shoots), and the vertical and horizontal elongation and production rates, were higher than at the reference sites. Nitrogen limitation effects on rhizome elongation and production rates and on biomass were more evident than CO2 as these were highest at the location where the limitation of nitrogen was highest. At the seep where the availability of CO2 was highest and nitrogen lowest, density of shoots and individuals were highest, probably due to CO2 effects on shoot differentiation and induced reproductive output, respectively. At the three seeps, there was higher short- and long-term shoot recruitment than at the reference sites, and growth rates was around zero, indicating that elevated CO2 increases the turnover of C. nodosa shoots.

Long-term effects of elevated CO2, nighttime warming and drought on plant secondary metabolites in a temperate heath ecosystem.

Plant secondary metabolites play critical roles in plant stress tolerance and adaptation, and are known to be influenced by the environment and climate changes, yet the impacts and interactions of multiple climate change components are poorly understood, particularly under natural conditions. Accumulation of phenolics and emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were assessed on heather, Calluna vulgaris, an abundant evergreen dwarf shrub in European heathlands, after 6 years of exposure to elevated CO2, summer drought and nighttime warming. Drought alone had the strongest effects on phenolic concentrations and compositions, with moderate effects of elevated CO2 and temperature. Elevated CO2 exerted the greatest impact on VOC emissions, mainly by increasing monoterpene emissions. The response magnitudes varied among plant tissue types and chemical constituents, and across time. With respect to interactive effects of the studied climate change components, the interaction between drought and elevated CO2 was most apparent. Drought mainly reduced phenolic accumulation and VOC emissions, while elevated CO2 mitigated such effects. In natural ecosystems, co-occurring climate factors can exert complex impacts on plant secondary metabolite profiles, which may in turn alter ecosystem processes.

Use of High-Frequency Noninvasive Electromagnetic Biosensors to Detect Ocean Acidification Effects on Shellfish Behavior

Although ocean acidification studies related to marine animal behavior have increased in recent years, the behavioral effects of ocean acidification on shellfish are relatively understudied, even though marine shellfish exhibit a wealth of behaviors that can modify organismal interactions and biological community functioning. Furthermore, detecting acute behavioral changes may provide a biological indicator of ecosystem stress and/or an early warning system for aquaculture operations. This article highlights a new and emerging technology—high-frequency noninvasive (HFNI) electromagnetic biosensors—that can be used to document acute and long-term effects of elevated CO2 on the valve-gaping behavior of marine bivalves. An overview of the technology is presented, and the current and potential uses of these biosensors in ocean acidification research are highlighted, along with current limitations and next steps. Although a handful of studies have used these biosensors to test for effects of acidification on bivalve valve-gaping behavior, their potential for testing critical and novel hypotheses regarding ocean acidification effects in a broader range of shellfish taxa is currently underused. Ultimately, this article provides a basis for expanding ocean acidification research on shellfish behavior through the use of HFNI electromagnetic biosensors.

Long-term effects of elevated CO2 on carbon and nitrogen functional capacity of microbial communities in three contrasting soils

Elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) affects soil-plant systems by stimulating plant growth, rhizosphere processes and altering the amount and quality of organic matter inputs. This study examined whether these plant-mediated processes indirectly influence the structure and function of soil microbial communities and soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. Surface soils (0–5 and 5–10 cm) of Calcarosol, Chromosol and Vertosol were sampled after 5 years' exposure to either ambient CO2 (aCO2; 390 ppm) or eCO2 (550 ppm) using free-air CO2 enrichment (SoilFACE). Changes in microbial community structure were not detected using automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analyses (ARISA). However, quantitative PCR of targeted organic C decomposition (cu, cbh), N mineralisation (apr, npr), nitrification (amoB, amoA, norA) and denitrification (nirK, narG, nosZ) genes showed that eCO2 reduced the abundance of half of the functional genes in the Chromosol and Vertosol and their abundance was tightly coupled with total C and N pools. In the Chromosol, total N and C of soil (<2 mm particles) was reduced by up to 20% and was associated with enhanced microbial activity (soil respiration). Soil C was also reduced in the Vertosol (15%, 5–10 cm); however greater laccase, reduced cellulase and lower microbial activity indicated that organic matter decomposition was currently limited by N. The loss of soil organic N and C under eCO2 was likely driven by greater N demand. This study highlighted that the indirect effects of eCO2 on functional capacity of soil microbial communities in dryland agricultural system depended on the soil type.

Does elevated CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; protect photosynthesis from damage by high temperature via modifying leaf water status in maize seedlings?

We hypothesized that decreased stomatal conductance (g s) at elevated CO2 might decrease transpiration (E), increase leaf water potential (&Psi;W), and thereby protect net photosynthesis rate (P N) from heat damage in maize (Zea mays L) seedlings. To separate long-term effects of elevated CO2, plants grew at either ambient CO2 or elevated CO2. During high-temperature treatment (HT) at 45°C for 15 min, leaves were exposed either to ambient CO2 (380 &mu;mol mol-1) or to elevated CO2 (560 &mu;mol mol-1). HT reduced P N by 25 to 38% across four CO2 combinations. However, the g s and E did not differ among all CO2 treatments during HT. After returning the leaf temperature to 35°C within 30 min, g s and E were the same or higher than the initial values. Leaf water potential (&Psi;W) was slightly lower at ambient CO2, but not at elevated CO2. This study highlighted that elevated CO2 failed in protecting P N from 45°C via decreasing g s and &Psi;W.

Long-term effects of elevated CO2 and temperature on the Arctic calanoid copepods Calanus glacialis and C. hyperboreus

The sensitivity of copepods to ocean acidification (OA) and warming may increase with time, however, studies >10days and on synergistic effects are rare. We therefore incubated late copepodites and females of two dominant Arctic species, Calanus glacialis and Calanushyperboreus, at 0°C at 390 and 3000μatm pCO2 for several months in fall/winter 2010. Respiration rates, body mass and mortality in both species and life stages did not change with pCO2. To detect synergistic effects, in 2011 C. hyperboreus females were kept at different pCO2 and temperatures (0, 5, 10°C). Incubation at 10°C induced sublethal stress, which might have overruled effects of pCO2. At 5°C and 3000μatm, body carbon was significantly lowest indicating a synergistic effect. The copepods, thus, can tolerate pCO2 predicted for a future ocean, but in combination with increasing temperatures they could be sensitive to OA.

SHORT- AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF ELEVATED CO2 ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RESPIRATION IN THE MARINE MACROALGA HIZIKIA FUSIFORMIS (SARGASSACEAE, PHAEOPHYTA) GROWN AT LOW AND HIGH N SUPPLIES(1).

The short-term and long-term effects of elevated CO2 on photosynthesis and respiration were examined in cultures of the marine brown macroalga Hizikia fusiformis (Harv.) Okamura grown under ambient (375 μL · L(-1) ) and elevated (700 μL · L(-1) ) CO2 concentrations and at low and high N availability. Short-term exposure to CO2 enrichment stimulated photosynthesis, and this stimulation was maintained with prolonged growth at elevated CO2 , regardless of the N levels in culture, indicating no down-regulation of photosynthesis with prolonged growth at elevated CO2 . However, the photosynthetic rate of low-N-grown H. fusiformis was more responsive to CO2 enrichment than that of high-N-grown algae. Elevation of CO2 concentration increased the value of K1/2 (Ci) (the half-saturation constant) for photosynthesis, whereas high N supply lowered it. Neither short-term nor long-term CO2 enrichment had inhibitory effects on respiration rate, irrespective of the N supply, under which the algae were grown. Under high-N growth, the Q10 value of respiration was higher in the elevated-CO2 -grown algae than the ambient-CO2 -grown algae. Either short- or long-term exposure to CO2 enrichment decreased respiration as a proportion of gross photosynthesis (Pg) in low-N-grown H. fusiformis. It was proposed that in a future world of higher atmospheric CO2 concentration and simultaneous coastal eutrophication, the respiratory carbon flux would be more sensitive to changing temperature.

Long-term effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on species composition and productivity of a southern African C4 dominated grassland in the vicinity of a CO2 exhalation

We describe the long-term effects of a CO2 exhalation, created more than 70 years ago, on a natural C4 dominated sub-tropical grassland in terms of ecosystem structure and functioning. We tested whether long-term CO2 enrichment changes the competitive balance between plants with C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways and how CO2 enrichment has affected species composition, plant growth responses, leaf properties and soil nutrient, carbon and water dynamics. Long-term effects of elevated CO2 on plant community composition and system processes in this sub-tropical grassland indicate very subtle changes in ecosystem functioning and no changes in species composition and dominance which could be ascribed to elevated CO2 alone. Species compositional data and soil δ13C isotopic evidence suggest no detectable effect of CO2 enrichment on C3:C4 plant mixtures and individual species dominance. Contrary to many general predictions C3 grasses did not become more abundant and C3 shrubs and trees did not invade the site. No season length stimulation of plant growth was found even after 5 years of exposure to CO2 concentrations averaging 610 μmol mol−1. Leaf properties such as total N decreased in the C3 but not C4 grass under elevated CO2 while total non-structural carbohydrate accumulation was not affected. Elevated CO2 possibly lead to increased end-of-season soil water contents and this result agrees with earlier studies despite the topographic water gradient being a confounding problem at our research site. Long-term CO2 enrichment also had little effect on soil carbon storage with no detectable changes in soil organic matter found. There were indications that potential soil respiration and N mineralization rates could be higher in soils close to the CO2 source. The conservative response of this grassland suggests that many of the reported effects of elevated CO2 on similar ecosystems could be short duration experimental artefacts that disappear under long-term elevated CO2 conditions.

Canopy profiles of photosynthetic parameters under elevated CO2 and N fertilization in a poplar plantation

A poplar plantation has been exposed to an elevated CO2 concentration for 5 years using the free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) technique. Even after such a long period of exposure, leaves of Populus x euramericana have not shown clear signs of photosynthetic acclimation. Only at the end of the growing season for shade leaves was a decrease of maximum velocity of carboxylation (Vcmax) observed. Maximum electron transport rate (Jmax) was increased by FACE treatment in July. Assimilation rates at CO2 partial pressure of 400 (A400) and 600 (A600) μmol mol−1 were not significantly different under FACE treatment. Most notably FACE significantly decreased stomatal conductance (gs) both on upper and lower canopy leaves. N fertilization increased N content in the leaves on mass basis (Nm) and specific leaf area (SLA) in both CO2 treatments but did not influence the photosynthetic parameters. These data show that in poplar plantations the long-term effects of elevated CO2 on photosynthesis do not differ considerably from the short-term ones even with N deposition.

Differential impacts of long-term (CO2) and O3 exposure on growth of northern conifer and deciduous tree species

The long-term effects of elevated CO2 and CO2+O3 concentrations on the growth allocation in northern provenances of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.], Scots pine [Pinus sylvestris (L.)] and pubescent birch clones (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) were examined in open-top chambers after a 4-year-long experiment. The total biomass responses of the tree seedlings to increased CO2 and CO2+O3 concentrations were not statistically significant and varied between the provenances and species. The seedlings of northern origin were the least sensitive in their response to treatments. The total biomass of the Norway spruce seedlings slightly decreased in response to CO2 in three provenances. Scots pine from the local provenance had a slight biomass increase after elevated CO2+O3 treatment. The slower-growing birch clone seemed to benefit from elevated CO2, whereas in the faster-growing clone, reductions in biomass accumulation were seen. The combined CO2+O3 treatment reduced the positive effects of elevated CO2, especially in the slower-growing birches. Observations of significant effects were limited to a few parameters. Carbon dioxide treatment decreased needle dry weight of Norway spruce in one northern provenance. The needle and wood dry weight increased (CO2 + O3) in local Scots pine. Significant birch response was limited to increased fine root density (O3 + CO2) in the inland clone. The diverse effects of elevated CO2 and CO2 +O3 on seedling growth and biomass provide evidence that exposure of northern trees to the enhanced variable CO2 and O3 concentrations of the future will have varied effects on the growth of these species. The direction and magnitude of those effects will differ depending on species and origins.

Long-Term Effects of Elevated CO2 on Woody Tissues Respiration of Norway Spruce Studied in Open-Top Chambers

In an open-top chamber experiment located in a mountain stand of 14-years-old Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.), trees were continuously exposed to either ambient CO2 concentration (A), or ambient + 350 µmol mol-1 (E) over four growing seasons. Respiration rates of different woody parts (stem, branches, coarse roots) were measured during the last growing season. The calculated increase in the respiration rate related to a 10 °C temperature change (Q10) was different in stem compared to branches and roots. Differences between the E and A variants were statistically significant only for roots in the autumn. Stem maintenance respiration (RMs) measured in April and November (periods of no growth activity) were not different. The stem respiration values (Rs) were recalculated to a standard temperature of 15 °C to estimate the seasonal course. The obtained Rs differed significantly between used variants during July and August. At the end of the season, Rs in E decreased slower than in A, indicating some prolongation of the physiological activity under the elevated CO2 concentration. The total stem respiration carbon losses for the investigated growing season (May - September) were higher for A (2.32 kg(C) m-2 season-1) compared to E (2.12 kg(C) m-2 season-1). The respiration rates of the whorl branches (Rb) were lower compared with the stem respiration but not significantly different between the used variants. The root respiration rate was increased in E variant.