Plant Responses to Elevated CO₂ Evidence from Natural Springs

About this book

The rise in the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere since the start of industrialization, and the global warming associated with this greenhouse gas, has stimulated research into the response of plants to elevated levels of CO₂. Much of this work has been carried out in controlled environments which provide limited information about long-term effects on vegetation. In contrast, CO₂-emitting mineral springs provide a unique opportunity to consider vegetation which has endured over many generations at naturally elevated levels of CO₂.

This volume presents findings from a range of sites, confirming the potential of these natural laboratories in the investigation of this important aspect of climate change.

Paperback re-issue; originally published in 1997.

Contents

Preface; 1. Sites of naturally-elevated CO2 J. Grace and P. van Gardingen; 2. Migration in the ground of CO2 and other volatile contaminants. Theory and survey G. Etiope; 3. Levels of CO2 leakage in relation to geology G. Etiope and S. Lombardi; 4. CO2 emission in volcanic areas: case histories and hazards M. Martini; 5. Controlled degassing of lakes with high CO2 content in Cameroon: an opportunity for ecosystem CO2-enrichment experiments M. Mousseau, Z. Enoch and J. Sabroux; 6. Burning coal seams in southern Utah: a natural system for studies of plant responses to elevated CO2 J. Ehleringer, D. Sandquist and S. Philips; 7. Long-term effects of enhanced CO2 concentrations on leaf gas exchange: research opportunities using CO2 springs P. van Gardingen, J. Grace, C. Jeffree, S. Byari, F. Miglietta, A. Raschi and I. Bettarini; 8. Using Icelandic CO2 springs to understand the long-term effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 A. Cook, W. Oechel and B. Sveinbjornsson; 9. Plant-CO2 responses in the long term: plants from CO2 springs in Florida and tombs in Egypt F. Woodward and D. Beerling; 10. Acidophilic grass communities of CO2 springs in central Italy: composition, structure and ecology F. Selvi; 11. Studying morpho-physiological responses of scirpus lacustris from naturally CO2-enriched environments I. Bettarini, F. Miglietta and A. Raschi; 12. Carbon physiology of quercus pubescens wild. Growing at the Bossoleto CO2 spring in central Italy J. Johnson, M. Michelozzi and R. Tognetti; 13. Preliminary results on dissolved inorganic 13C and 14C content of a CO2-rich mineral spring of Catalonia (NE Spain) and of plants growing in its surroundings J. Pinol and J. Terradas; 14. The impact of elevated CO2 on the growth of agrostis canina and plantago major adapted to contrasting CO2 concentrations M. Fordham, J. Barnes, I Bettarini, H. Griffiths, F. Miglietta and A. Raschi; 15. Stomatal numbers in holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) leaves grown in naturally and artificially CO2 enriched environments E. Paoletti, F. Miglietta, A. Raschi, F. Manes and P. Grossoni; 16. Effects of CO2 on NH4+ assimilation by cyanidium caldarium, an acidophilic hot springs and hot soils unicellular alga C. Rigano, V. di Martino Rigano, V. Vona, S. Esposito and C. di Martino; 17. Can rising CO2 alleviate oxidative risk for the plant cell? Testing the hypothesis under natural CO2 enrichment M. Badini, A. Paolacci, A. D'Annibale, F. Miglietta and A. Raschi; 18. Increasing concentration of atmospheric CO2 and decomposition processes in forest ecosystems P. Ineson and F. Cotrufo; Index.

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