Cedar Creek study finds lower than expected photosynthesis due to elevated carbon dioxide levels

A long term study by Cedar Creek LTER researchers has found that plants' capacity to absorb extra carbon from the atmosphere due to elevated carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels may be less than expected. A report of the findings entitled "Photosynthetic responses of 13 grassland species across 11 years of free-air CO₂ enrichment is modest, consistent and independent of N supply" and authored by Tali D. Lee, Susan H. Barrott, and Peter B. Reich was recently published in the journal Global Change Biology. The report presents data from what is by far the longest running realistic study of elevated CO₂ responses of natural vegetation, and with the most plant species.

According to Reich, the data show a smaller stimulation (fertilization) of photosynthesis by elevated CO₂ than is generally thought to occur. This finding is important because heightened photosynthesis and production under rising CO₂ is thought to help "soak" up CO₂ out of the atmosphere to be sequestered in terrestrial ecosystems.

The Cedar Creek results suggest that carbon cycle models that assume long-lived, strong, elevated CO₂ simulation of photosynthesis (e.g. 25%) for all of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems should be viewed with a great deal of caution.