Enhanced woody biomass production in a mature temperate forest under elevated CO2
Abstract Enhanced CO 2 assimilation by forests as atmospheric CO 2 concentration rises could slow the rate of CO 2 increase if the assimilated carbon is allocated to long-lived biomass. Experiments in young tree plantations support a CO 2 fertilization effect as atmospheric CO 2 continues to increase. Uncertainty exists, however, as to whether older, more mature forests retain the capacity to respond to elevated CO 2. Here, aided by tree-ring analysis and canopy laser scanning, we show that a 180-year-old Quercus robur L. woodland in central England increased the production of woody biomass when exposed to free-air CO 2 enrichment (FACE) for 7 years. Further, elevated CO 2 increased exudation of carbon from fine roots into the soil with likely effects on nutrient cycles. The increase in tree growth and allocation to long-lived woody biomass demonstrated here substantiates the major role for mature temperate forests in climate change mitigation.
Authors
- Martha E. Crockatt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7694-6626)
- Iain P. Hartley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9183-6617)
- Rick Thomas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8307-2584)
- A. R. MacKenzie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8227-742X)
- Joshua Larsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0650-7369)
- Robert T. Grzesik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2399-5751)
- Alan G. Jones (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3047-3338)
- Carolina Mayoral (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7235-9264)
- Giulio Curioni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9243-5436)
- Angeliki Kourmouli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3425-8782)
- Neil J. Loader (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6841-1813)
- Zongbo Shi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7157-543X)
- Klaske van Wijngaarden (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8255-491X)
- Kris M. Hart (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6490-0049)
- Richard J. Norby (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0238-9828)
- Michaela K. Reay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6335-1690)
- R. Liz Hamilton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2532-2236)
- Sami Ullah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9153-8847)
- Andrew R. Smith (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-278X)
- Muhammad Shoaib Amjad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5822-0853)
- Deanne Brettle
- Gael Denny
Institutions
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (US)
- Bangor University (GB)
- University of Exeter (GB)
- Swansea University (GB)
- Earthwatch Europe (GB)
- Forest Research (GB)
- Western Sydney University (AU)
- University of Birmingham (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Climate Change
- Published
- 2024-08-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02090-3
- Citations
- 51
- Primary Topic
- Plant responses to elevated CO2
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 30.58
Funders
- UK Research and Innovation
- Sight Research UK
- Natural Environment Research Council