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Are fire resprouters more carbon limited than non-resprouters? Effects of elevated CO2 on biomass, storage and allocation of woody species

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Abstract

Resprouting ability is a key functional trait determining plant responses and vegetation dynamics after disturbances such as fire that shape most global biomes. It is likely that rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations will alter resource allocation patterns in plants which in turn will alter resprouting responses. In this study, we asked: (1) do resprouters have greater allocation to storage than non-resprouters?; (2) if so, do resprouters account for this negative carbon balance by having reduced growth?; and (3) do resprouters have a relatively weaker growth response compared to non-resprouters under elevated CO2 levels due to their increased allocation to storage? To address these questions, we grew congeneric species-pairs of shrubs common to south-eastern Australia with contrasting resprouting abilities under ambient and elevated CO2 levels. We found that resprouters in general allocated more resources to storage (root non-structural carbohydrates and biomass) and had less total biomass than non-resprouters. Under elevated CO2 levels both sprouting types increased biomass production, suggesting they were carbon limited. Surprisingly, the resprouters allocated this additional carbon to biomass rather than to storage. This suggests that although elevated CO2 levels may not affect resprouting ability directly in resprouters, it may enhance other aspects of persistence such as escapability and bud protection. Furthermore, non-resprouters may also benefit from the additional carbon by being able to set seed more quickly and increase seed production thus enhancing their recruitment after fire. Thus, the relative benefits of elevated CO2 levels on resprouters versus non-resprouters remain equivocal.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge M. Masood (Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University) for assistance in the glasshouses and David Appleton (School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland) for conducting all soluble carbohydrates and starch analyses. This research was funded by a Macquarie University Safety Net grant. The experiments conducted complied with all current laws and regulations of Australia, where they were conducted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia

    Peter J. Clarke

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia

    Anthony Manea & Michelle R. Leishman

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  1. Peter J. Clarke
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  2. Anthony Manea
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  3. Michelle R. Leishman
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Correspondence to Anthony Manea.

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Communicated by Prof. Michael Lawes, Prof. Ross Bradstock and Prof. David Keith.

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Clarke, P.J., Manea, A. & Leishman, M.R. Are fire resprouters more carbon limited than non-resprouters? Effects of elevated CO2 on biomass, storage and allocation of woody species. Plant Ecol 217, 763–771 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-015-0528-y

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