Will increases in atmospheric CO2affect regrowth following grazing in C4grasses from tropical grasslands? A test with Sporobolus kentrophyllus.
We grew a C4grass from the Serengeti ecosystem under ambient (370 ppm) and elevated (700 ppm) CO2, and under clipped and unclipped conditions to test whether regrowth following grazing would be affected by elevated CO2. Above-ground productivity was slightly decreased under elevated CO2, and was similar between clipped and unclipped plants. Regrowth (clipping offtake) following clipping was similar in the two CO2treatments, and there was no CO2by clipping interaction on biomass, productivity, or leaf nutrient concentrations. Based on this evidence, we suggest that C4grasses from the Serengeti will show little direct response to future increases in atmospheric CO2.
Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Biological Research Laboratories, 110 College Place, 13244, Syracuse, NY, USA.
Brian J
BJ
Wilsey
Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Biological Research Laboratories, 110 College Place, 13244, Syracuse, NY, USA.
Samuel J
SJ
McNaughton
Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Biological Research Laboratories, 110 College Place, 13244, Syracuse, NY, USA.
James S
JS
Coleman
Africa; Global change; Grasslands; Grazing; Herbivory