Impacts of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide on model terrestrial ecosystems
In model terrestrial ecosystems maintained for three plant generations at elevated concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, increases in photosynthetically fixed carbon were allocated below ground, raising concentrations of dissolved organic carbon in soil. These effects were then transmitted up the decomposer food chain. Soil microbial biomass was unaffected, but the composition of soil fungal species changed, with increases in rates of cellulose decomposition. There were also changes in the abundance and species composition of Collembola, fungal-feeding arthropods. These results have implications for long-term feedback processes in soil ecosystems that are subject to rising global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
Jones
TH
T. H. Jones, L. J. Thompson, J. H. Lawton, T. M. Bezemer, T. M. Blackburn, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College at Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK. R. D. Bardgett, School.
Thompson
LJ
Lawton
JH
Bezemer
TM
Bardgett
RD
Blackburn
TM
Bruce
KD
Cannon
PF
Hall
GS
Hartley
SE
Howson
G
Jones
CG
Kampichler
C
Kandeler
E
Ritchie
DA