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MORE EFFICIENT PLANTS: A Consequence of Rising Atmospheric CO2?
Bert G. Drake1, Miquel A. Gonzalez-Meler, Steve P. Long
1Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, P.O. Box 28, Edgewater, Maryland 21037, John Tabor Laboratories, The Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, The University of Essex, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom.
Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology
|June 1, 1997
Summary
Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) boosts plant resource efficiency. Plants show improved water, light, and nutrient use, impacting ecosystems and agriculture.
Area of Science:
- Plant physiology
- Ecology
- Climate change science
Background:
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are rising globally.
- Plants respond to elevated CO2 by altering resource use efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the multifaceted effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on plant physiology and resource use.
- To highlight the implications for ecosystems and agriculture.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing field studies on elevated CO2 effects.
- Analysis of physiological responses including stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, and nutrient cycling.
Main Results:
- Elevated CO2 increases water use efficiency by reducing transpiration.
- Photosynthesis rates and light-use efficiency are enhanced.
- Acclimation to elevated CO2 can decrease key photosynthetic enzymes, improving nutrient use efficiency.
- Observed effects include improved soil-water balance, increased shade carbon uptake, higher C:N ratios, and reduced forage quality.
Conclusions:
- Rising atmospheric CO2 significantly enhances plant resource use efficiency.
- These physiological changes have profound consequences for both agricultural productivity and native ecosystem dynamics.
- Understanding these impacts is crucial for predicting future ecological and agricultural landscapes under climate change.
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