Plant Responses to Elevated CO2
Evidence from Natural Springs

Mineral springs - natural laboratories for the study of climate change and vegetation.

A. Raschi (Edited by), F. Miglietta (Edited by), R. Tognetti (Edited by), P. van Gardingen (Edited by)

9780521087292, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 11 December 2008

288 pages, 66 b/w illus. 18 tables
21.3 x 15.3 x 1.5 cm, 0.46 kg

Review of the hardback: '… an excellent overview of ongoing and planned research … I recommend this book to everyone working in this field.' Stephen Hättenschwiler, Trends in Ecology and Evolution

The rise in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere since the start of industrialization, and the global warming associated with this greenhouse gas, has stimulated research into the response of plants to elevated levels of CO2. Much of this work has been carried out in controlled environments which provide limited information about long-term effects on vegetation. In contrast, CO2-emitting mineral springs provide a unique opportunity to consider vegetation which has endured over many generations at naturally elevated levels of CO2. This volume presents findings from a range of sites, confirming the potential of these natural laboratories in the investigation of this important aspect of climate change.

Preface
1. Sites of naturally-elevated CO2 J. Grace and P. van Gardingen
2. Migration in the ground of CO2 and other volatile contaminants. Theory and survey G. Etiope
3. Levels of CO2 leakage in relation to geology G. Etiope and S. Lombardi
4. CO2 emission in volcanic areas: case histories and hazards M. Martini
5. Controlled degassing of lakes with high CO2 content in Cameroon: an opportunity for ecosystem CO2-enrichment experiments M. Mousseau, Z. Enoch and J. Sabroux
6. Burning coal seams in southern Utah: a natural system for studies of plant responses to elevated CO2 J. Ehleringer, D. Sandquist and S. Philips
7. Long-term effects of enhanced CO2 concentrations on leaf gas exchange: research opportunities using CO2 springs P. van Gardingen, J. Grace, C. Jeffree, S. Byari, F. Miglietta, A. Raschi and I. Bettarini
8. Using Icelandic CO2 springs to understand the long-term effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 A. Cook, W. Oechel and B. Sveinbjornsson
9. Plant-CO2 responses in the long term: plants from CO2 springs in Florida and tombs in Egypt F. Woodward and D. Beerling
10. Acidophilic grass communities of CO2 springs in central Italy: composition, structure and ecology F. Selvi
11. Studying morpho-physiological responses of scirpus lacustris from naturally CO2-enriched environments I. Bettarini, F. Miglietta and A. Raschi
12. Carbon physiology of quercus pubescens wild. Growing at the Bossoleto CO2 spring in central Italy J. Johnson, M. Michelozzi and R. Tognetti
13. Preliminary results on dissolved inorganic 13C and 14C content of a CO2-rich mineral spring of Catalonia (NE Spain) and of plants growing in its surroundings J. Piñol and J. Terradas
14. The impact of elevated CO2 on the growth of agrostis canina and plantago major adapted to contrasting CO2 concentrations M. Fordham, J. Barnes, I Bettarini, H. Griffiths, F. Miglietta and A. Raschi
15. Stomatal numbers in holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) leaves grown in naturally and artificially CO2 enriched environments E. Paoletti, F. Miglietta, A. Raschi, F. Manes and P. Grossoni
16. Effects of CO2 on NH4+ assimilation by cyanidium caldarium, an acidophilic hot springs and hot soils unicellular alga C. Rigano, V. di Martino Rigano, V. Vona, S. Esposito and C. di Martino
17. Can rising CO2 alleviate oxidative risk for the plant cell? Testing the hypothesis under natural CO2 enrichment M. Badini, A. Paolacci, A. D'Annibale, F. Miglietta and A. Raschi
18. Increasing concentration of atmospheric CO2 and decomposition processes in forest ecosystems P. Ineson and F. Cotrufo
Index.

Subject Areas: Climate change [RNPG], Plant physiology [PSTD]