Plant Responses to Elevated CO2: Evidence from Natural Springs

The rise in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere since the start of industrialization, and the global warming associated with this greenhouse gas, has stimulated research into the response of plants to elevated levels of CO2. Much of this work has been carried out in controlled environments which provide limited information about long-term effects on vegetation. In contrast, CO2-emitting mineral springs provide a unique opportunity to consider vegetation which has endured over many generations at naturally elevated levels of CO2. This volume presents findings from a range of sites, confirming the potential of these natural laboratories in the investigation of this important aspect of climate change.

Table of Contents:
Preface; 1. Sites of naturally-elevated CO2 J. Grace and P. van Gardingen; 2. Migration in the ground of CO2 and other volatile contaminants. Theory and survey G. Etiope; 3. Levels of CO2 leakage in relation to geology G. Etiope and S. Lombardi; 4. CO2 emission in volcanic areas: case histories and hazards M. Martini; 5. Controlled degassing of lakes with high CO2 content in Cameroon: an opportunity for ecosystem CO2-enrichment experiments M. Mousseau, Z. Enoch and J. Sabroux; 6. Burning coal seams in southern Utah: a natural system for studies of plant responses to elevated CO2 J. Ehleringer, D. Sandquist and S. Philips; 7. Long-term effects of enhanced CO2 concentrations on leaf gas exchange: research opportunities using CO2 springs P. van Gardingen, J. Grace, C. Jeffree, S. Byari, F. Miglietta, A. Raschi and I. Bettarini; 8. Using Icelandic CO2 springs to understand the long-term effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 A. Cook, W. Oechel and B. Sveinbjornsson; 9. Plant-CO2 responses in the long term: plants from CO2 springs in Florida and tombs in Egypt F. Woodward and D. Beerling; 10. Acidophilic grass communities of CO2 springs in central Italy: composition, structure and ecology F. Selvi; 11. Studying morpho-physiological responses of scirpus lacustris from naturally CO2-enriched environments I. Bettarini, F. Miglietta and A. Raschi; 12. Carbon physiology of quercus pubescens wild. Growing at the Bossoleto CO2 spring in central Italy J. Johnson, M. Michelozzi and R. Tognetti; 13. Preliminary results on dissolved inorganic 13C and 14C content of a CO2-rich mineral spring of Catalonia (NE Spain) and of plants growing in its surroundings J. Piñol and J. Terradas; 14. The impact of elevated CO2 on the growth of agrostis canina and plantago major adapted to contrasting CO2 concentrations M. Fordham, J. Barnes, I Bettarini, H. Griffiths, F. Miglietta and A. Raschi; 15. Stomatal numbers in holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) leaves grown in naturally and artificially CO2 enriched environments E. Paoletti, F. Miglietta, A. Raschi, F. Manes and P. Grossoni; 16. Effects of CO2 on NH4+ assimilation by cyanidium caldarium, an acidophilic hot springs and hot soils unicellular alga C. Rigano, V. di Martino Rigano, V. Vona, S. Esposito and C. di Martino; 17. Can rising CO2 alleviate oxidative risk for the plant cell? Testing the hypothesis under natural CO2 enrichment M. Badini, A. Paolacci, A. D'Annibale, F. Miglietta and A. Raschi; 18. Increasing concentration of atmospheric CO2 and decomposition processes in forest ecosystems P. Ineson and F. Cotrufo; Index.