Climate Fact: Prairie Plant Response to CO2 Enrichment
Changes in the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air have been shown to affect plant growth rates, the amount and quality of fruit plants produce and how much water a plant releases through evaporation. A study conducted between 1996 and 2001 in the western Great Plains (parts of Colorado and Wyoming) grew several species of native and invasive prairie plants under both elevated and current CO2 concentrations and temperatures. The plants communities grown under elevated CO2 concentrations and temperatures produced about twice as much plant matter as the communities grown under today’s conditions. This growth, however, was accompanied by a decrease in the amount of nutrients the plant matter held. Also, plant species considered to be of poorer quality for livestock became more prevalent under the elevated CO2 and temperature conditions.
Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Source: Parton, WJ et al. “Projected ecosystem impact of the Prairie Heating and CO2 Enrichment experiment.” New Phytologist 174 (2007): 823-834.