Author
Morgan, Jack | |
KANDELER, E - UNIV OF HOHENHEIM | |
Lecain, Daniel | |
MOSIER, ARVIN - UNIV OF FLORIDA | |
KING, JENNIFER - UNIV OF MINNESOTA | |
PARTON, WILLIAM - COLORADO STATE UNIV | |
RUDOLPH, S - UNIV OF HOHENHEIM | |
TSCHERKO, D - UNIV OF HOHENHEIM | |
MILCHUNAS, DANIEL - COLORADO STATE UNIV. |
Submitted to: Shortgrass Steppe Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/2007 Publication Date: 1/11/2007 Citation: Morgan, J.A., Kandeler, E., Milchunas, D.G., Lecain, D.R., Mosier, A.R., King, J.Y., Parton, W.J., Rudolph, S., Tscherko, D. 2007. Elevated CO2 alters plant & microbial communities in the shortgrass steppe. Shortgrass Steppe Symposium, January 2007, Ft. Collins, CO. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Doubling atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations [CO2] in Open Top Chambers (OTC) installed over native Colorado shortgrass steppe increased the productivity of C3 grasses from 1997-1999, and progressively increased plant cover of Artemisia frigida, fringed sage, a common shrub of North American and Asian native grasslands. Changes in the abundance of fungal phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) extracted from soils in the final two years of the experiment indicated a shift in the microbial community towards more fungal dominance. The results suggest that rising atmospheric [CO2] has the potential to cause substantive changes in grasslands due to both plant and microbial community responses. |