Elevated- CO2 responsiveness, interactions at the community level, and plant functional types.

DIAZ S

JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 1995 vol. 22 p. 289 - 295

0305-0270

Plant responsiveness to elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) is a relevant  dimension for the definition of functional types in the face of global  change. Most traits reported to be associated with high CO2  responsiveness are derived from laboratory experiments on individually  grown species. This paper suggests that physiological traits such as  photosynthetic pathway and internal sink strength are necessary, but  not enough for the prediction of plant responses in mixed stands. A  number of examples from the literature are presented to illustrate how  predictions based on single-species experiments may not match the  behaviour of multi-species assemblages. Individual attributes  associated to the interaction of the species with other members of the  community should be also con- sidered. Morphogenetic and architectural  traits, as well as characteristics related to other trophic levels,  such as the presence of root symbionts or the preferential allocation  to growth or defences against herbivory, may be useful for a better  prediction of plant responsiveness to high CO2 in the field.