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The Duke Forest FACE Experiment: CO2 Enrichment of a Loblolly Pine Forest

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Managed Ecosystems and CO2

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 187))

11.5 Conclusions

Free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) in the Duke Forest provides a whole-ecosystem arena in which to examine the response of a temperate coniferous forest to high, future levels of atmospheric CO2. At the end of 8 years of the experiment, we conclude:

  • Photosynthetic rates by canopy foliage have increased up to 50 % over controls.

  • Basal area increment has been stimulated 13–27 % versus that in control plots, with interannual variation due to variations in temperature and moisture during the growing season.

  • Biomass increment has increased by 108 g C m-2 year-1 (27 %) over that in control plots.

  • Growth and respiration of roots are higher in CO2 fumigated plots.

  • Litterfall is greater in high CO2 plots and forest floor accumulation has increased.

  • There has been little or no change in the total amount of soil organic matter as a result of CO2 fumigations.

  • While the stimulation of growth by high CO2 persists after 8 years of fumigation, there is evidence of nitrogen limitation in the fumigated plots.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 27708, USA

    W. H. Schlesinger, E. S. Bernhardt, D. S. Ellsworth, A. C. Finzi, K. S. Hofmockel, J Lichter, R. Matamala, D. Moore, R. Oren, J. S. Pippen & R. B. Thomas

  2. Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, 265 Morrill Hall, 505 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    E. H. DeLucia

  3. Queens College, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, New York, 11367, USA

    G. R. Hendrey

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  1. W. H. Schlesinger
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  2. E. S. Bernhardt
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  3. E. H. DeLucia
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  4. D. S. Ellsworth
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  6. G. R. Hendrey
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  7. K. S. Hofmockel
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  8. J Lichter
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  9. R. Matamala
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  10. D. Moore
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  12. J. S. Pippen
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Plant Sciences, ETH, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Josef Nösberger

  2. Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, 379 Edward R. Madigan Laboratory 1201 W. Gregory, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Stephen P. Long

  3. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Bldg. 1062, Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831-6422, USA

    Richard J. Norby

  4. Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg, 14476, Golm, Germany

    Mark Stitt

  5. Queens College, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY, 11367, USA

    George R. Hendrey

  6. Institute of Plant Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Herbert Blum

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Schlesinger, W.H. et al. (2006). The Duke Forest FACE Experiment: CO2 Enrichment of a Loblolly Pine Forest. In: Nösberger, J., Long, S.P., Norby, R.J., Stitt, M., Hendrey, G.R., Blum, H. (eds) Managed Ecosystems and CO2 . Ecological Studies, vol 187. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31237-4_11

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