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Independent, interactive, and species-specific responses of leaf litter decomposition to elevated CO2 and O3 in a northern hardwood forest

Informally Refereed

Abstract

The future capacity of forest ecosystems to sequester atmospheric carbon is likely to be influenced by CO2-mediated shifts in nutrient cycling through changes in litter chemistry, and by interactions with pollutants like O3. We evaluated the independent and interactive effects of elevated CO2 and O3 on leaf litter decomposition in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) and paper birch (Betula papyrifera) at the Aspen free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) site (Wisconsin, USA). Fumigation treatments consisted of replicated ambient, +CO2, +O3, and +CO2 + O3 FACE rings.

Keywords

Betula papyrifera, elevated CO2, decomposition, elevated O3, FACE, leaf litter, limit values, litter quality, Populus tremuloides

Citation

Parsons, William F.J.; Bockheim, James G.; Lindroth, Richard L. 2008. Independent, interactive, and species-specific responses of leaf litter decomposition to elevated CO2 and O3 in a northern hardwood forest. Ecosystems. 11: 505-519.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/35020