Where does the carbon go?--Plant carbon allocation under climate change

Authors:
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The ability of terrestrial vegetation to both take up and release carbon and water makes understanding climate change effects on plant function critical. These effects could alter the impacts and feedbacks of vegetation on climate and either slow down or accelerate climatic warming (Bonan 2008). As a result, studies on plant responses to increased atmospheric CO2 concentration and elevated temperatures have become abundant in the last 20 years (for reviews, see Way and Oren 2010, Franks et al. 2013). Predictions of future increases in the frequency and severity of drought in many areas of the world (IPCC 2013) have also led to an emphasis on plant drought responses and tolerance to climate change (McDowell et al. 2008, Adams et al. 2009, Breshears et al. 2009, Allen et al. 2010). Changes in the environment, however, will not occur separately, and the combined effects of two or more global change factors will likely be complex (e.g., Norby and Luo 2004). There is evidence, for example, that increased atmospheric CO2 and temperature may increase plant productivity, resource-use efficiency and growth rates (e.g., Drake et al. 1997, Wullschleger et al. 2002, Way and Oren 2010). But these changes could lead to changes in structure and hydraulics that increase drought vulnerability (Maherali and DeLucia 2000, Wullschleger et al. 2002, Way et al. 2013). Further, increased atmospheric CO2 concentration may increase plant water-use efficiency (e.g., Franks et al. 2013) while elevated temperature may reduce it (Way et al. 2013). To predict future vegetation changes and the influence of these interactions correctly, parsing plant responses as independent factors is essential. For understanding ecosystem-scale responses and verifying models, combined effects have to be quantified.

This publication has 36 references indexed in Scilit: