ARS | Publication request: EFFECTS OF ELEVATED ATMOSPHERIC CO2 ON INVASIVE WEED SPECIES IN MANAGED TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: May 3, 2005
Publication Date: May 3, 2005
Citation: Prior, S.A., Runion, G.B., Price, A.J., Van Santen, E., Rogers Jr, H.H., Gjerstad, D.H., Torbert III, H.A. 2005. Effects of elevated atmospheric co2 on invasive weed species in managed terrestrial ecosystems of the southeastern us. In: Proceedings of the Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council's 7th Annual Conference, May 3-5, 2005, Birmingham, Alabama. p. 40-42.

Interpretive Summary: Loss of plant productivity and increases in weed control measure are estimated to cost U.S. agricultural and forest producers billion of dollars each year. One neglected aspect of global environmental change is how invasive plants might react to the rise in atmospheric CO2 level. Since elevated CO2 often stimulates plant growth, we propose to study CO2 effects on invasive weeds detrimental to the Southeast economy. This work will look at how several different invasive plants respond to high CO2, how herbicide use is affected by high CO2, and how economically important plants compete with invasive plants under high CO2. Invasive plant pests can disrupt terrestrial ecosystems and this threat is great for the southeastern U.S., with its numerous ports of entry and mild climate. This research will generate information that helps combat invasive plants in a future CO2-enriched world.

Technical Abstract: One neglected aspect of global change is the consideration of how invasive plants might react to the increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. This recently funded National Institute for Global Environmental Change (Southeast Regional Center) research project will place primary emphasis on assessing congongrass [Imperata cylindrical (L.) Beauv.] responses to CO2 enrichment. The work will be conducted in three phases: (1) phase 1, individual invasive plants representative of various guilds will be assessed for their responses to elevated CO2; (2) phase 2, will consist of herbicide trials as affected by elevated CO2; and (3) phase 3, based on phase 1 & 2 findings, will be a series of competition studies conducted under elevated CO2 conditions. This presentation will cover the different invasive species being investigated along with the specific experimental hypothesis that will be addressed.