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• 1. [Article] Response of Sagebrush Steppe Species to Elevated CO2 and Soil Temperature

  Elevated atmospheric CO2 may cause long-term changes in the productivity and species composition of the sagebrush steppe. Few studies, however, have evaluated the effects of increased CO2 on growth and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Response of Sagebrush Steppe Species to Elevated CO2 and Soil Temperature Author: Lucash, Melissa S., Farnsworth, Blake, Winner, William E. Year: 2005 Elevated atmospheric CO2 may cause long-term changes in the productivity and species composition of the sagebrush steppe. Few studies, however, have evaluated the effects of increased CO2 on growth and physiology of species important to this ecosystem. Since the response of plants to elevated CO2 may be limited by environmental factors, soil temperature was also examined to determine if low soil temperatures limit CO2 response. To determine how CO2 and soil temperature affect the growth of species native to the sagebrush steppe, bottlebrush squirreltail [Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey], Thurber needlegrass (Stipa thurberiana Piper), and Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Beetle) were grown in ambient (374 mL L–1) or high (567 mL L–1) CO2 and low (13°C) or high (18°C) soil temperature for approximately 4 months. Although soil temperature affected the growth of squirreltail and needlegrass, temperature did not modify their response to elevated CO2. Total biomass of sagebrush was consistent across soil temperature and CO2 treatments, reflecting its slow-growing strategy. All 3 species had higher leaf water-use efficiency at elevated CO2 due to higher net photosynthesis and lower transpiration rates. We conclude that elevated CO2 and soil warming may increase the growth of grasses more than shrubs. Field studies in the sagebrush steppe are necessary to determine if differences in biomass, resulting from changes in CO2 and soil temperature, are exhibited in the field. Title: Response of Sagebrush Steppe Species to Elevated CO2 and Soil Temperature Author: Lucash, Melissa S., Farnsworth, Blake, Winner, William E. Year: 2005 Elevated atmospheric CO2 may cause long-term changes in the productivity and species composition of the sagebrush steppe. Few studies, however, have evaluated the effects of increased CO2 on growth and physiology of species important to this ecosystem. Since the response of plants to elevated CO2 may be limited by environmental factors, soil temperature was also examined to determine if low soil temperatures limit CO2 response. To determine how CO2 and soil temperature affect the growth of species native to the sagebrush steppe, bottlebrush squirreltail [Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey], Thurber needlegrass (Stipa thurberiana Piper), and Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Beetle) were grown in ambient (374 mL L–1) or high (567 mL L–1) CO2 and low (13°C) or high (18°C) soil temperature for approximately 4 months. Although soil temperature affected the growth of squirreltail and needlegrass, temperature did not modify their response to elevated CO2. Total biomass of sagebrush was consistent across soil temperature and CO2 treatments, reflecting its slow-growing strategy. All 3 species had higher leaf water-use efficiency at elevated CO2 due to higher net photosynthesis and lower transpiration rates. We conclude that elevated CO2 and soil warming may increase the growth of grasses more than shrubs. Field studies in the sagebrush steppe are necessary to determine if differences in biomass, resulting from changes in CO2 and soil temperature, are exhibited in the field. Close

• 2. [Article] Stomatal Responses of Douglas-Fir Seedlings to Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Temperature During the Third and Fourth Years of Exposure

  Two major components of climate change, increasing atmospheric [CO2] and increasing temperature, may substantially alter the effects of water availability to plants through effects on the rate of water ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Stomatal Responses of Douglas-Fir Seedlings to Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Temperature During the Third and Fourth Years of Exposure Author: Lewis, James D., Lucash, Melissa S., Olszyk, David M., Tingey, David T. Year: 2002 Two major components of climate change, increasing atmospheric [CO2] and increasing temperature, may substantially alter the effects of water availability to plants through effects on the rate of water loss from leaves. We examined the interactive effects of elevated [CO2] and temperature on seasonal patterns of stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration (E) and instantaneous transpiration efficiency (ITE) in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings. Seedlings were grown in sunlit chambers at either ambient CO2 (AC) or ambient + 180 µmol mol-1 CO2 (EC), and at ambient temperature (AT) or ambient + 3.5° C (ET) in a full-factorial design. Needle gas exchange at the target growth conditions was measured approximately monthly over 21 months. Across the study period and across temperature treatments, growth in elevated [CO2] decreased E by an average of 12% and increased ITE by an average of 46%. The absolute reduction of E associated with elevated [CO2] significantly increased with seasonal increases in the needle-to-air vapour pressure deficit (D). Across CO2 treatments, growth in elevated temperature increased E an average of 37%, and did not affect ITE. Combined, growth in elevated [CO2] and elevated temperature increased E an average of 19% compared with the ACAT treatment. The CO2 supply and growth temperature did not significantly affect stomatal sensitivity to D or the relationship between gs and net photosynthetic rates. This study suggests that elevated [CO2] may not completely ameliorate the effect of elevated temperature on E, and that climate change may substantially alter needle-level water loss and water use efficiency of Douglas-fir seedlings. Title: Stomatal Responses of Douglas-Fir Seedlings to Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Temperature During the Third and Fourth Years of Exposure Author: Lewis, James D., Lucash, Melissa S., Olszyk, David M., Tingey, David T. Year: 2002 Two major components of climate change, increasing atmospheric [CO2] and increasing temperature, may substantially alter the effects of water availability to plants through effects on the rate of water loss from leaves. We examined the interactive effects of elevated [CO2] and temperature on seasonal patterns of stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration (E) and instantaneous transpiration efficiency (ITE) in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings. Seedlings were grown in sunlit chambers at either ambient CO2 (AC) or ambient + 180 µmol mol-1 CO2 (EC), and at ambient temperature (AT) or ambient + 3.5° C (ET) in a full-factorial design. Needle gas exchange at the target growth conditions was measured approximately monthly over 21 months. Across the study period and across temperature treatments, growth in elevated [CO2] decreased E by an average of 12% and increased ITE by an average of 46%. The absolute reduction of E associated with elevated [CO2] significantly increased with seasonal increases in the needle-to-air vapour pressure deficit (D). Across CO2 treatments, growth in elevated temperature increased E an average of 37%, and did not affect ITE. Combined, growth in elevated [CO2] and elevated temperature increased E an average of 19% compared with the ACAT treatment. The CO2 supply and growth temperature did not significantly affect stomatal sensitivity to D or the relationship between gs and net photosynthetic rates. This study suggests that elevated [CO2] may not completely ameliorate the effect of elevated temperature on E, and that climate change may substantially alter needle-level water loss and water use efficiency of Douglas-fir seedlings. Close

• 3. [Article] Relationships Between Needle Nitrogen Concentration and Photosynthetic Responses of Douglas-Fir Seedlings to Elevated CO2 and Temperature

  Here we examined correlations between needle nitrogen concentration ([N]) and photosynthetic responses of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings to growth in elevated temperatures and atmospheric ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Relationships Between Needle Nitrogen Concentration and Photosynthetic Responses of Douglas-Fir Seedlings to Elevated CO2 and Temperature Author: Lewis, James D., Lucash, Melissa S., Olszyk, David M., Tingey, David T. Year: 2004 Here we examined correlations between needle nitrogen concentration ([N]) and photosynthetic responses of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings to growth in elevated temperatures and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO2]). Seedlings were grown in sunlit, climate-controlled chambers at ambient or ambient+3.5° C and ambient or ambient +180 μmol mol-1 CO2 in a full factorial design. Photosynthetic parameters and needle [N] were measured six times over a 21-month period. Needle [N] varied seasonally, and accounted for 30–50% of the variation in photosynthetic parameters. Across measurement periods, elevated temperature increased needle [N] by 26% and light-saturated net photosynthetic rates by 17%. Elevated [CO2] decreased needle [N] by 12%, and reduced net photosynthetic rates measured at a common [CO2], maximum carboxylation activity (Vc,max) and electrontransport capacity (Jmax), indicating photosynthetic acclimatization. Even so, elevated [CO2] enhanced net photosynthesis, and this effect increased with needle [N]. These results suggest that needle [N] may regulate photosynthetic responses of Douglas-fir to climate change. Further, needle [N] may be altered by climate change. However, effects of elevated [CO2] on photosynthesis may be similar across growth temperatures. Title: Relationships Between Needle Nitrogen Concentration and Photosynthetic Responses of Douglas-Fir Seedlings to Elevated CO2 and Temperature Author: Lewis, James D., Lucash, Melissa S., Olszyk, David M., Tingey, David T. Year: 2004 Here we examined correlations between needle nitrogen concentration ([N]) and photosynthetic responses of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings to growth in elevated temperatures and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO2]). Seedlings were grown in sunlit, climate-controlled chambers at ambient or ambient+3.5° C and ambient or ambient +180 μmol mol-1 CO2 in a full factorial design. Photosynthetic parameters and needle [N] were measured six times over a 21-month period. Needle [N] varied seasonally, and accounted for 30–50% of the variation in photosynthetic parameters. Across measurement periods, elevated temperature increased needle [N] by 26% and light-saturated net photosynthetic rates by 17%. Elevated [CO2] decreased needle [N] by 12%, and reduced net photosynthetic rates measured at a common [CO2], maximum carboxylation activity (Vc,max) and electrontransport capacity (Jmax), indicating photosynthetic acclimatization. Even so, elevated [CO2] enhanced net photosynthesis, and this effect increased with needle [N]. These results suggest that needle [N] may regulate photosynthetic responses of Douglas-fir to climate change. Further, needle [N] may be altered by climate change. However, effects of elevated [CO2] on photosynthesis may be similar across growth temperatures. Close