How does rising atmospheric CO2 affect marine organisms?

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Varied Responses of Plantago lanceolata to Elevated CO2
Reference
Klus, D.J., Kalisz, S., Curtis, P.S., Teeri, J.A. and Tonsor, S.J.  2001.  Family- and population-level responses to atmospheric CO2 concentration: gas exchange and the allocation of C, N, and biomass in Plantago lanceolata (Plantaginaceae).  American Journal of Botany 88: 1080-1087.

What was done
The authors grew two populations (18 total families) of the herb Plantago lanceolata in open-top chambers receiving atmospheric CO2 concentrations of 360 and 720 ppm for about four months to determine if elevated CO2 affected net photosynthesis and biomass production differentially in the different families.

What was learned
Elevated CO2 increased rates of net photosynthesis in all but one of the 17 genetically different families.  Moreover, a doubling of the atmospheric CO2 concentration nearly doubled the average rate of photosynthesis displayed by the two plant populations.  The average growth response to elevated CO2, however, was much lower, with the CO2-enriched plants exhibiting an average increase in total biomass of about 15%.

What it means
As the CO2 content of the air increases, it is likely that Plantago lanceolata plants will exhibit increased rates of net photosynthesis and biomass production, regardless of their particular genetic background.  Thus, this perennial herb should grow larger and more efficiently under future atmospheric conditions characterized by elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO2.


Reviewed 28 August 2002