Effects of Growth Environment on Aboveground Carbon Budgets in Ponderosa Pine

Abstract

In a separate study I measured ponderosa pine saplings grown in CO$\sb2$-enriched atmospheres. Trees grown under elevated CO$\sb2$ concentrations (ambient + 350 ppm) had higher temperature coefficients of respiration than trees grown under current ambient concentrations (approx. 350 ppm) and this translated into greater time-integrated respiration in high CO$\sb2$-grown trees. Increases in stem R$\rm\sb{m}$ suggested by my data, in response to increased temperature, climate-induced changes in biomass allocation, and increased atmospheric CO$\sb2$ concentration, could have a significant effect on future forest carbon flux.