Overstory community composition and elevated atmospheric CO2 and O3 modify understory biomass production and nitrogen acquisition

Janet M. Bandeff; Kurt S. Pregitzer; Wendy M. Loya; William E. Holmes; Donald R. Zak

Overstory community composition and elevated atmospheric CO₂ and O₃ modify understory biomass production and nitrogen acquisition

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Janet M. Bandeff, Kurt S. Pregitzer, Wendy M. Loya, William E. Holmes, Donald R. Zak

Year:

2006

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

Plant and Soil. 28: 251-259.

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Abstract

Elevated atmospheric CO₂ and O₃ have the potential to affect the primary productivity of the forest overstory, but little attention has been given to potential responses of understory vegetation. Our objective was to document the effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ and O₃ on understory species composition and biomass and to quantify nitrogen (N) acquisition by the understory vegetation. The research took place at the aspen free-air CO₂ and O₃ enrichment (FACE) experiment, which has four treatments (control, elevated CO₂, elevated O₃, and elevated CO₂+O₃) and three tree communities: aspen, aspen/birch, and aspen/maple.

Keywords

climate change, global change, light, nitrogen cycling, plant competition, stable isotopes

Citation

Bandeff, Janet M.; Pregitzer, Kurt S.; Loya, Wendy M.; Holmes, William E.; Zak, Donald R. 2006. Overstory community composition and elevated atmospheric CO2 and O3 modify understory biomass production and nitrogen acquisition. Plant and Soil. 28: 251-259.