Field experiments using CO2 enrichment: a comparison of two main methods
iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, Volume 3, Issue 4, Pages 109-112 (2010)
doi: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor0545-003
Published: Jul 15, 2010 - Copyright © 2010 SISEF
Review Papers
Collection/Special Issue: NFZ Summer School 2009 - Birmensdorf (Switzerland)
Long-term ecosystem research: understanding the present to shape the future
Guest Editors: Marcus Schaub (WSL, Switzerland)
Abstract
The dramatic increase in global atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past century is hypothesized to have significant impacts on the earth system. To understand the effects of elevated CO2 on terrestrial ecosystems, two main methods have been used to simulate an increase of CO2 in a semi-controlled field setting: 1) Open Top Chambers (OTC); and 2) Free Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE). The OTC method has been applied to study the components of forest ecosystems at small scale by manipulating seedlings or isolated juvenile trees, but is not able to address ecosystem processes as a whole. For technical reasons, OTC cannot be used to consider scaling issues, interaction with the boundary layer, and competition among species. To address these issues FACE technology was developed. FACE enables longer-term studies in larger plots, and allows studies of plant processes such as leaf area and canopy development, canopy energy balance and canopy gas exchange. In this review, I synthesize results from literature, in particular from meta-analysis techniques applied either to OTC or FACE. The results are qualitatively similar: CO2 enrichment leads to reduced stomatal conductance and leaf nitrogen, and enhanced photosynthesis and production. However, photosynthesis and crop yield were lower in FACE experiments than OTC, while starch content was higher. These results provide support for ecosystem model simulations, and help fill the gap between individual plants, forest and regional ecosystem. Neither OTC nor FACE can provide a clear indication of the regional-scale feedbacks between atmosphere and vegetation that might be expected under elevated CO2. To address this issue, further research is needed.
Keywords
Photosynthesis, Free-Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment FACE, Open top chamber, Carbon sequestration, Forest ecosystem
Authors’ Info
Authors’ address
Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Research Group Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Station 2, CH-1015 Lausanne (Switzerland)
Corresponding author
Paper Info
Citation
Mauri A (2010). Field experiments using CO2 enrichment: a comparison of two main methods. iForest 3: 109-112. - doi: 10.3832/ifor0545-003
Paper history
Received: May 25, 2010
Accepted: Jun 01, 2010
First online: Jul 15, 2010
Publication Date: Jul 15, 2010
Publication Time: 1.47 months
Copyright Information
© SISEF - The Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology 2010
Open Access
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