Seedling survival in a northern temperate forest understory in increased by elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and atmospheric nitrogen deposition
We tested the main and interactive effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]), nitrogen (N), and light availability on leaf photosynthesis, and plant growth and survival in understory seedlings grown in an N‐limited northern hardwood forest. For two growing seasons, we exposed six spec...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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BLACKWELL PUBLISHING
2007
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/77907 |
| _version_ | 1848763918830272512 |
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| author | Sefcik, Lesley Zak, D.R. Ellsworth, D.S. |
| author_facet | Sefcik, Lesley Zak, D.R. Ellsworth, D.S. |
| author_sort | Sefcik, Lesley |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | We tested the main and interactive effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]), nitrogen (N), and light availability on leaf photosynthesis, and plant growth and survival in understory seedlings grown in an N‐limited northern hardwood forest. For two growing seasons, we exposed six species of tree seedlings (Betula papyrifera, Populus tremuloides, Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Pinus strobus, and Prunus serotina) to a factorial combination of atmospheric CO2 (ambient, and elevated CO2 at 658 μmol CO2 mol−1) and N deposition (ambient and ambient +30 kg N ha−1 yr−1) in open‐top chambers placed in an understory light gradient. Elevated CO2 exposure significantly increased apparent quantum efficiency of electron transport by 41% (P<0.0001), light‐limited photosynthesis by 47% (P<0.0001), and light‐saturated photosynthesis by 60% (P<0.003) compared with seedlings grown in ambient [CO2]. Experimental N deposition significantly increased light‐limited photosynthesis as light availability increased (P<0.037). Species differed in the magnitude of light‐saturated photosynthetic response to elevated N and light treatments (P<0.016). Elevated CO2 exposure and high N availability did not affect seedling growth; however, growth increased slightly with light availability (R2=0.26, P<0.0001). Experimental N deposition significantly increased average survival of all species by 48% (P<0.012). However, seedling survival was greatest (85%) under conditions of both high [CO2] and N deposition (P<0.009). Path analysis determined that the greatest predictor for seedling survival in the understory was total biomass (R2=0.39, P<0.001), and that carboxylation capacity (Vcmax) was a better predictor for seedling growth and survival than maximum photosynthetic rate (Amax). Our results suggest that increasing [CO2] and N deposition from fossil fuel combustion could alter understory tree species recruitment dynamics through changes in seedling |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:11:06Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-77907 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:11:06Z |
| publishDate | 2007 |
| publisher | BLACKWELL PUBLISHING |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-779072020-05-11T07:50:21Z Seedling survival in a northern temperate forest understory in increased by elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and atmospheric nitrogen deposition Sefcik, Lesley Zak, D.R. Ellsworth, D.S. Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Biodiversity Conservation Ecology Environmental Sciences Biodiversity & Conservation Environmental Sciences & Ecology elevated CO2 growth light-limitation N-limitation nitrogen northern hardwood species path analysis photosynthesis shade tolerance survival RELATIVE GROWTH-RATE PHOTOSYNTHETIC ACCLIMATION CO2 CONCENTRATION SHADE-TOLERANCE POPULUS-TREMULOIDES SUCCESSIONAL STATUS LIGHT AVAILABILITY LEAF NITROGEN CHLOROPLAST ULTRASTRUCTURE CO2-ENRICHED ATMOSPHERE We tested the main and interactive effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]), nitrogen (N), and light availability on leaf photosynthesis, and plant growth and survival in understory seedlings grown in an N‐limited northern hardwood forest. For two growing seasons, we exposed six species of tree seedlings (Betula papyrifera, Populus tremuloides, Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Pinus strobus, and Prunus serotina) to a factorial combination of atmospheric CO2 (ambient, and elevated CO2 at 658 μmol CO2 mol−1) and N deposition (ambient and ambient +30 kg N ha−1 yr−1) in open‐top chambers placed in an understory light gradient. Elevated CO2 exposure significantly increased apparent quantum efficiency of electron transport by 41% (P<0.0001), light‐limited photosynthesis by 47% (P<0.0001), and light‐saturated photosynthesis by 60% (P<0.003) compared with seedlings grown in ambient [CO2]. Experimental N deposition significantly increased light‐limited photosynthesis as light availability increased (P<0.037). Species differed in the magnitude of light‐saturated photosynthetic response to elevated N and light treatments (P<0.016). Elevated CO2 exposure and high N availability did not affect seedling growth; however, growth increased slightly with light availability (R2=0.26, P<0.0001). Experimental N deposition significantly increased average survival of all species by 48% (P<0.012). However, seedling survival was greatest (85%) under conditions of both high [CO2] and N deposition (P<0.009). Path analysis determined that the greatest predictor for seedling survival in the understory was total biomass (R2=0.39, P<0.001), and that carboxylation capacity (Vcmax) was a better predictor for seedling growth and survival than maximum photosynthetic rate (Amax). Our results suggest that increasing [CO2] and N deposition from fossil fuel combustion could alter understory tree species recruitment dynamics through changes in seedling 2007 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/77907 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01293.x English BLACKWELL PUBLISHING restricted |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Biodiversity Conservation Ecology Environmental Sciences Biodiversity & Conservation Environmental Sciences & Ecology elevated CO2 growth light-limitation N-limitation nitrogen northern hardwood species path analysis photosynthesis shade tolerance survival RELATIVE GROWTH-RATE PHOTOSYNTHETIC ACCLIMATION CO2 CONCENTRATION SHADE-TOLERANCE POPULUS-TREMULOIDES SUCCESSIONAL STATUS LIGHT AVAILABILITY LEAF NITROGEN CHLOROPLAST ULTRASTRUCTURE CO2-ENRICHED ATMOSPHERE Sefcik, Lesley Zak, D.R. Ellsworth, D.S. Seedling survival in a northern temperate forest understory in increased by elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and atmospheric nitrogen deposition |
| title | Seedling survival in a northern temperate forest understory in increased by elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and atmospheric nitrogen deposition |
| title_full | Seedling survival in a northern temperate forest understory in increased by elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and atmospheric nitrogen deposition |
| title_fullStr | Seedling survival in a northern temperate forest understory in increased by elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and atmospheric nitrogen deposition |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seedling survival in a northern temperate forest understory in increased by elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and atmospheric nitrogen deposition |
| title_short | Seedling survival in a northern temperate forest understory in increased by elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and atmospheric nitrogen deposition |
| title_sort | seedling survival in a northern temperate forest understory in increased by elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and atmospheric nitrogen deposition |
| topic | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Biodiversity Conservation Ecology Environmental Sciences Biodiversity & Conservation Environmental Sciences & Ecology elevated CO2 growth light-limitation N-limitation nitrogen northern hardwood species path analysis photosynthesis shade tolerance survival RELATIVE GROWTH-RATE PHOTOSYNTHETIC ACCLIMATION CO2 CONCENTRATION SHADE-TOLERANCE POPULUS-TREMULOIDES SUCCESSIONAL STATUS LIGHT AVAILABILITY LEAF NITROGEN CHLOROPLAST ULTRASTRUCTURE CO2-ENRICHED ATMOSPHERE |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/77907 |