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Effects of below ground CO2 emissions on plant and microbial communities

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Abstract

Below-ground carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions occur naturally at CO2 springs, but the risk of occurrence at other sites will increase as geologic CO2 storage is implemented to help mitigate climate change. This investigation examines the effects of elevated soil CO2 concentrations from such emissions on vegetation biomass and microbial community biomass, respiration and carbon utilisation in temperate grassland. Soil CO2 concentrations was increased by release of concentrated CO2 gas from a point source 0.6 m below the surface of the soil as a low-level leak (1 l min−1) for 10 weeks. The gassing resulted in reduced vegetation above- and below-ground biomass over time. No significant changes in microbial biomass or carbon utilisation were observed, but a trend towards reduced microbial respiration was apparent. This research provides a first step towards understanding the potential ecological risks of geologic carbon storage, the development of biological leak detection methods, and improved understanding of the effects of elevated soil CO2 concentrations on biological communities.

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Notes

  1. For the 10 week sampling, soil was too wet to be sieved. Soil was broken up as much as possible and roots were removed by hand, allowing 30 minutes per sample.

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Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Prof. Jeremy Colls, Dr. Karon Smith, and the rest of the ASGARD team for the use of the site and technical support; Ms Manal Al-Troubasi and Professor Michael Steven collected the bar-holing data; Dr. Tom Reader and Dr. Markus Eichhorn for statistical support; and Dr. Helen West for assistance in the laboratory and with analysis of Biolog plates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Science, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, United Kingdom

    Sarah Pierce & Sofie Sjögersten

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  1. Sarah Pierce
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  2. Sofie Sjögersten
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Correspondence to Sofie Sjögersten.

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Responsible Editor: Juha Mikola.

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Pierce, S., Sjögersten, S. Effects of below ground CO2 emissions on plant and microbial communities. Plant Soil 325, 197–205 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-9969-1

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