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Enhanced woody biomass production in a mature temperate forest under elevated CO2
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Neil Loader ,
Carolina Mayoral ,
Sami Ullah ,
Giulio Curioni ,
Andy R. Smith,
Michaela K. Reay ,
Klaske van Wijngaarden ,
Muhammad Shoaib Amjad,
Deanne Brettle ,
Martha E. Crockatt ,
Gael Denny,
Robert T. Grzesik ,
R. Liz Hamilton ,
Kris M. Hart ,
Iain P. Hartley ,
Alan G. Jones ,
Angeliki Kourmouli ,
Joshua R. Larsen ,
Zongbo Shi ,
Rick M. Thomas ,
A. Robert MacKenzie
Nature Climate Change, Volume: 14, Issue: 9, Pages: 983 - 988
Swansea University Author:
Neil Loader
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DOI (Published version): 10.1038/s41558-024-02090-3
Abstract
Enhanced CO2 assimilation by forests as atmospheric CO2 concentration rises could slow the rate of CO2 increase if the assimilated carbon is allocated to long-lived biomass. Experiments in young tree plantations support a CO2 fertilization effect as atmospheric CO2 continues to increase. Uncertainty...
| Published in: | Nature Climate Change |
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| ISSN: | 1758-678X 1758-6798 |
| Published: |
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
2024
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68218 |
| Abstract: |
Enhanced CO2 assimilation by forests as atmospheric CO2 concentration rises could slow the rate of CO2 increase if the assimilated carbon is allocated to long-lived biomass. Experiments in young tree plantations support a CO2 fertilization effect as atmospheric CO2 continues to increase. Uncertainty exists, however, as to whether older, more mature forests retain the capacity to respond to elevated CO2. 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 CO2 enrichment (FACE) for 7 years. Further, elevated CO2 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. |
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| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
Funding was provided by the JABBS foundation, the University of Birmingham, and the John Horseman Trust (to A.R.M.), the UK Natural Environmental Research Council through grants NE/S015833/1 (to A.R.M.) and NE/T012323/1 (to S.U.), the UK Research and Innovation Frontier Research Grant QUERCUS funded under EP/X025098/1 (to N.J.L.), and The University of Birmingham Institute for Advanced Studies Distinguished Visiting Fellowship Programme (to R.J.N.). |
| Issue: |
9 |
| Start Page: |
983 |
| End Page: |
988 |