Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Transient nature of CO2 fertilization in Arctic tundra

Nature volume 371, pages 500–503 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

THERE has been much debate about the effect of increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations on plant net primary production1,3 and on net ecosystem CO2 flux3–10. Apparently conflicting experimental findings could be the result of differences in genetic potential11–15 and resource availability16–20, different experimental conditions21–24 and the fact that many studies have focused on individual components of the system2,21,25–27 rather than the whole ecosystem. Here we present results of an in situ experiment on the response of an intact native ecosystem to elevated CO2. An undisturbed patch of tussock tundra at Toolik Lake, Alaska, was enclosed in greenhouses in which the CO2 level, moisture and temperature could be controlled28, and was subjected to ambient (340 p.p.m.) and elevated (680 p.p.m.) levels of CO2 and temperature (+4 °C). Air humidity, precipitation and soil water table were maintained at ambient control levels. For a doubled CO2 level alone, complete homeostasis of the CO2 flux was re-established within three years, whereas the regions exposed to a combination of higher temperatures and doubled CO2 showed persistent fertilization effect on net ecosystem carbon sequestration over this time. This difference may be due to enhanced sink activity from the direct effects of higher temperatures on growth16,29–33 and to indirect effects from enhanced nutrient supply caused by increased mineralization10,11,19,27,34. These results indicate that the responses of native ecosystems to elevated CO2 may not always be positive, and are unlikely to be straightforward. Clearly, CO2 fertilization effects must always be considered in the context of genetic limitation, resource availability and other such factors.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Eamus, D. & Jarvis, P. G. Adv. Ecol. Res. 19, 1–57 (1989).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Drake, B. G. Wat. Air & Soil Pollut. 64, 25–44 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bazzaz, F. A. A. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 21, 167–196 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Graham, R. L., Turner, M. G. & Dale, V. H. Bioscience 40, 575–587 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Idso, S. B., Kimball, B. A. & Allen, S. G. Agric. For. Met. 54, 95–101 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Korner, C. & Arnone, J. A. Science 257, 1672–1675 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Melillo, J. M., Callaghan, T. V., Woodward, F. I., Salati, E. & Sinha, S. K. in Climate Change: The IPCC Scientific Assessment (eds Houghton, J. T., Jenkins, G. J. & Ephraums, J. J.) 283–310 (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mooney, H. A., Drake, B. G., Luxmoore, R. J., Oechel, W. C. & Pitelka, L. F. Bioscience 41, 96–104 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Norby, R. J., O'Neill, E. G. & Luxmoore, R. J. Pl. Physiol. 82, 83–89 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Shaver, G. R. et al. Bioscience 42, 433–441 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Oberbauer, S. F., Sionit, N., Hastings, S. J. & Oechel, W. C. Can. J. Bot. 64, 2993–2998 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Wulff, R. D. & Alexander, H. M. Oecologia 66, 458–460 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Garbutt, K. & Bazzaz, F. A. New Phytol. 98, 433–446 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Chapin, F. S. A. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 11, 233–260 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Strain, B. R. in Ecological Genetics and Pollution (eds Taylor, G. E. Jr., Pitelka, L. F. & Clegg, M. T.) 237–244 (Springer, New York, 1991).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  16. Oechel, W. C. & Strain, B. R. DOE Rep. DOE/ER-0238 (National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia, 1985).

  17. Strain, B. R. & Bazzaz, F. A. in CO2 and Plants: The Response of Plants to Rising Levels of Carbon Dioxide (ed. Lemon, E.D.) 177–222 (Westview, Boulder, Colorado, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hunt, R., Hand, D. W., Hannah, M. A. & Neal, A. M. Funct. Ecol. 5, 410–421 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Larigauderie, A., Hilbert, D. W. & Oechel, W. C. Oecologia 77, 544–549 (1988).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Field, C. B., Chapin, F. S., Matson, P. A. & Mooney, H. A. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 23, 201–235 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Thomas, R. B. & Strain, B. R. Pl. Physiol. 96, 627–634 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. McConnaughay, K. D. M., Berntson, G. M. & Bazzaz, F. A. Nature 361, 24 (1993).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Drake, B. G. & Leadley, P. W. Pl. Cell Envir. 14, 853–860 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Hogan, K. P., Smith, A. P. & Zizka, L. H. Pl. Cell Envir. 14, 763–778 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Arp, W. J. Pl. Cell Envir. 14, 869–875 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Cure, J. D., Rufty, T. W. & Israel, D. W. Physiologia Pl. 83, 687–695 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Strain, B. R. & Thomas, R. B. Wat. Air & Soil Pollut. 64, 45–60 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Oechel, W. C. et al. Funct. Ecol. 6, 86–100 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Idso, S. B., Kimball, B. A., Anderson, M. G. & Mauney, J. R. Agric. Ecosyst. Envir. 20, 1–10 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Stitt, M., von Schaewen, A. & Willmitzer, L. Planta 183, 40–50 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Schulze, W., Stitt, M., Schulze, E.-D., Neuhaus, H. E. & Fichtner, K. Pl. Physiol. 95, 890–895 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Von Schaewen, A., Stitt, M., Schmidt, R., Sonnewald, U. & Willmitzer, L. EMBO J. 9, 3033–3044 (1990).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Wulff, R. D. & Strain, B. R. Can. J. Bot. 60, 1084–1091 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Oechel, W. C. & Billings, W. D. in Arctic Physiological Processes in a Changing Climate (eds Chapin, F. S., Jefferies, R., Reynolds, J., Shaver, G. & Svoboda, J.) 139–168 (Academic, New York, 1992).

    Google Scholar 

  35. Gorham, E. Ecol. Appl. 1, 182–195 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Schell, D. M. Science 219, 1068–1071 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Schell, D. M. & Ziemann, P. J. in Prog. 4th int. Conf. Permafrost 1105–1110 (National Academy Press, Washington DC, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Marion, G. M. & Oechel, W. C. Holocene 3, 193–200 (1993).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. Miller, P. C., Kendall, R. & Oechel, W. C. Simulation 40, 119–131 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Post, W. M. Rep. No. ORNL/TM-11457 (Oak Ridge National Lab., Oak Ridge, 1990).

  41. Oechel, W. C. et al. Nature 361, 520–523 (1993).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Grulke, N. E., Riechers, G. H., Oechel, W. C., Hjelm, U. & Jaeger, C. Oecologia 83, 485–494 (1990).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Vourlitis, G. C., Oechel, W. C., Hastings, S. J. & Jenkins, M. A. Funct. Ecol. 7, 369–379 (1993).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Lachenbruch, A. H. & Marshall, B. V. Science 234, 689–696 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Hengeveld, H. State of the Environment Report No. 91-2 (Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  46. Beltrami, H. & Mareschal, J. C. Geophys. Res. Lett. 18, 605–608 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  47. Kukla, G. & Karl, T. R. DOE Res. Summary 14, 1–4 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  48. Chapman, W. L. & Walsh, J. E. Bull. Am. met. Soc. 74, 33–47 (1993).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Luxmore, R. J. Bioscience 31, 626 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Kramer, P. J. Bioscience 31, 29–33 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Prudhomme, T. I., Oechel, W. C., Hastings, S. J. & Lawrence, W. T. in Proc. Conf. Potential Effects of Carbon Dioxide-Induced Climatic Changes in Alaska (ed. McBeath, J. H.) 155–162 (Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  52. Tissue, D. T. & Oechel, W. C. Ecology 68, 401–410 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Oechel, W. C., Vourlitis, G. L., Hastings, S. J. & Bochkarev, S. A. Ecol. Appl. (in the press).

  54. Oechel, W. C. & Vourlitis, G. L. Tree 9, 324–329 (1994).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Shaver, G. R. & Chapin, F. S. Ecology 61, 662–675 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Chapin, F. S. & Shaver, G. Ecology 66, 564–576 (1985).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Oberbauer, S. F., Oechel, W. C. & Riechers, G. H. Pl. Soil 46, 145–158 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Bigger, C. M. & Oechel, W. C. Holarct. Ecol. 5, 158–163 (1982).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Marion, G. M. & Miller, P. C. Arct. alp. Res. 14, 287–293 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Marion, G. M. & Black, C. H. Soil. Sci. Soc. Am. J. 51, 1501–1508 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Lawrence, W. T. & Oechel, W. C. Can. J. For. Res. 13, 840–849 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Lawrence, W. T. & Oechel, W. C. Can. J. For. Res. 13, 850–859 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Kummerow, J. & Ellis, B. A. Can. J. Bot. 62, 2150–2153 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Limbach, W. E., Oechel, W. C. & Lowell, W. Holarct. Ecol. 5, 150–157 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  65. Nadelhoffer, K. J., Giblin, A. E., Shaver, G. R. & Linkins, A. E. in Arctic Ecosystems in a Changing Climate: An Ecophysiological Perspective (eds Chapin, F. S., Jeffries, R. L., Shaver, G. R., Reynolds, J. F. & Svoboda, J.) 281–300 (Academic, San Diego, 1992).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  66. Chapin, F. S. Adv. Miner. Nutr. 3, 161–191 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  67. Billings, W. D., Luken, J. O., Mortensen, D. A. & Peterson, K. M. Oecologia 53, 7–11 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Billings, W. D., Luken, J. O., Mortensen, D. A. & Peterson, K. M. Oecologia 58, 286–289 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Billings, W. D., Peterson, K. M., Luken, J. D. & Mortensen, D. A. Oecologia 65, 26–29 (1984).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Smith, T. M. & Shugart, H. H. Nature 361, 523–526 (1993).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  71. Sionit, N., Strain, B. R. & Hellmers, H. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 79, 335–339 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Owensby, C. E., Coyne, P. I., Ham, J. M., Auen, L. & Knapp, A. K. Ecol. Appl. 3, 644–653 (1993).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. Idso, S. B. Carbon Dioxide: Friend or Foe? (IBR, Tempe, Arizona, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  74. Idso, S. B. Carbon Dioxide and Global Change: Earth in Transition (IBR, Tempe, Arizona, 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  75. Idso, S. B. Bull. Am. metl. Soc. 72, 962–965 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  76. Kimball, B. A. Agronomy J. 75, 779–788 (1983).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  77. Wittwer, S. H. Policy Rev. 62, 4–9 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  78. Miglietta, F., Raschi, A., Bettarini, I., Resti, R. & Selvi, F. Pl. Cell Envir. 16, 873–878 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Cook, A. C., Oechel, W. C. & Sveinbjornsson, B. Proc. IGBP-GCTE Int. Wkshp Oct. 14–17 (1993).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Global Change Research Group, and Systems Ecology Research Group, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, 92182, USA

    Walter C. Oechel, Steven J. Hastings & George Vourlitis

  2. Stanford Human Genome Center, Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, 94305-5120, USA

    Sid Cowles

  3. Forestry Science Laboratory, 3200 Southwest Jefferson Way, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA

    Nancy Grulke

  4. NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 923, Biospheric Sciences, Greenbelt, Maryland, 20771, USA

    Bill Lawrence

  5. Omega Medical Systems, Inc., PO Box 18708, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27619, USA

    Tom Prudhomme

  6. Statewide Air Pollution Research Center, University of California, Riverside, California, 92521, USA

    George Riechers

  7. Botany Department, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 27706, USA

    Boyd Strain & David Tissue

Authors
  1. Walter C. Oechel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sid Cowles
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nancy Grulke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Steven J. Hastings
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Bill Lawrence
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Tom Prudhomme
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. George Riechers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Boyd Strain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. David Tissue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. George Vourlitis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oechel, W., Cowles, S., Grulke, N. et al. Transient nature of CO2 fertilization in Arctic tundra. Nature 371, 500–503 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/371500a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/371500a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing