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Biomass and compositional changes occur in chalk grassland turves exposed to elevated CO2 for two seasons in FACE

Biomass and compositional changes occur in chalk grassland turves exposed to elevated CO2 for two seasons in FACE
Biomass and compositional changes occur in chalk grassland turves exposed to elevated CO2 for two seasons in FACE
Artificial turves composed of 7 chalk grassland species (Festuca ovina L.; Briza media L.; Bromopsis erecta (Hudson) Fourr.; Plantago media L.; Sanguisorba minor Scop.; Anthyllis vulneraria L. and Lotus corniculatus L.) were grown from seed and exposed to two seasons of elevated (600 ?mol mol–1) and ambient (340 ?mol mol–1) CO2 concentrations in free air CO2 enrichment (ETH-FACE, Zurich). The turves were clipped regularly to a height of 5 cm and assessed for above ground biomass production and relative abundance based on accumulated clipped dry biomass as well as by point quadrat recording. Below ground biomass production was assessed with root in-growth bags during the second season of growth.

Increases in total biomass (> 30%) were noted in elevated CO2, but the differences did not become significant until the second season of growth. Individual species' biomass varied in response to elevated CO2, with significant increases in biomass in elevated CO2 turves for both legume species, and no significant CO2 effect on S. minor or P. media. An initial positive CO2 effect on biomass of combined grass species was reversed by the end of the experiment with less biomass and a significantly smaller proportion of total biomass present in elevated CO2, which was attributed primarily to changes in proportion of F. ovina.

Species relative abundance was significantly affected by elevated CO2 in the final 4 of the 6 clip events, with the legume species increasing in proportion at the expense of the other species, particularly the grasses. Root length and dry weight were both significantly increased in elevated CO2 (77% and 89%, respectively), and these increases were greater than increases in shoot biomass (36%) from the same period.

Species responses to elevated CO2, within the model community, were not consistent with predictions made from data on individual species, leading to the conclusion that responses to elevated CO2, at the community level, and species within the community level, are the result of direct physiological effects and indirect competitive effects. These conclusions are discussed with respect to the ecological responses of natural communities, and the chalk grassland community in particular, to elevated CO2.
1354-1013
375-385
Warwick, Kevin Robert
08d024d2-0e8f-43ef-9677-d93d484de81d
Taylor, Gail
Blum, Herbert
f73feeb3-f076-4660-96cb-f3b1c0749bd3
Warwick, Kevin Robert
08d024d2-0e8f-43ef-9677-d93d484de81d
Taylor, Gail
Blum, Herbert
f73feeb3-f076-4660-96cb-f3b1c0749bd3

Warwick, Kevin Robert, Taylor, Gail and Blum, Herbert (1998) Biomass and compositional changes occur in chalk grassland turves exposed to elevated CO2 for two seasons in FACE. Global Change Biology, 4 (4), 375-385. (doi:10.1046/j.1365-2486.1998.00159.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Artificial turves composed of 7 chalk grassland species (Festuca ovina L.; Briza media L.; Bromopsis erecta (Hudson) Fourr.; Plantago media L.; Sanguisorba minor Scop.; Anthyllis vulneraria L. and Lotus corniculatus L.) were grown from seed and exposed to two seasons of elevated (600 ?mol mol–1) and ambient (340 ?mol mol–1) CO2 concentrations in free air CO2 enrichment (ETH-FACE, Zurich). The turves were clipped regularly to a height of 5 cm and assessed for above ground biomass production and relative abundance based on accumulated clipped dry biomass as well as by point quadrat recording. Below ground biomass production was assessed with root in-growth bags during the second season of growth.

Increases in total biomass (> 30%) were noted in elevated CO2, but the differences did not become significant until the second season of growth. Individual species' biomass varied in response to elevated CO2, with significant increases in biomass in elevated CO2 turves for both legume species, and no significant CO2 effect on S. minor or P. media. An initial positive CO2 effect on biomass of combined grass species was reversed by the end of the experiment with less biomass and a significantly smaller proportion of total biomass present in elevated CO2, which was attributed primarily to changes in proportion of F. ovina.

Species relative abundance was significantly affected by elevated CO2 in the final 4 of the 6 clip events, with the legume species increasing in proportion at the expense of the other species, particularly the grasses. Root length and dry weight were both significantly increased in elevated CO2 (77% and 89%, respectively), and these increases were greater than increases in shoot biomass (36%) from the same period.

Species responses to elevated CO2, within the model community, were not consistent with predictions made from data on individual species, leading to the conclusion that responses to elevated CO2, at the community level, and species within the community level, are the result of direct physiological effects and indirect competitive effects. These conclusions are discussed with respect to the ecological responses of natural communities, and the chalk grassland community in particular, to elevated CO2.

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Published date: 1998

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Local EPrints ID: 159933
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/159933
ISSN: 1354-1013
PURE UUID: adedbbda-e7e1-4c9c-848b-a91b53c2faaa

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Date deposited: 08 Jul 2010 11:50
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 01:55

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Author: Kevin Robert Warwick
Author: Gail Taylor
Author: Herbert Blum

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