Effect of Elevated Carbon Dioxide on the Performance of Nine Coexisting Grassland Species

Microcosms were constructed to represent a neutral grassland community under traditional agricultural management. During a season of fumigation at ambient and 600 µmot/mot CO2, plant performance was recorded. An increase of biomass for the whole community resulted at elevated CO2, but the response of individual species differed, There are indications that competitive interactions may change within a community due to the effects of CO2 enrichment; this may eventually result in a change in species composition.