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Abstract

The potential impacts of climate change on both natural and managed ecosystems are far-reaching and are only beginning to be understood. Here we describe a new experiment that aims to determine the impacts of elevated [CO2] and elevated temperature on a native Themeda-Austrodanthonia dominated grassland ecosystem in southeast Tasmania. The experimental site contains 60 vascular plant species. The experiment combines the latest developments in free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) technology with the use of infrared (IR) heaters to mimic environmental conditions expected to exist in the year 2050. [CO2] in the FACE treatments is reliably maintained at 550 µmol mol-1 and leaf temperature is elevated by an average of 2.1°C by the IR treatment, with 1 cm soil temperature being elevated by 0.8°C. Measurements being made in the experiment cover plant ecophysiological responses, plant population dynamics and community interactions. Soil processes and ecosystem effects including nutrient cycling and plant animal interactions are also being investigated. Collaborations are invited from interested parties.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Hovenden, MJ and Miglietta, F and Zaldei, A and Vander Schoor, JK and Wills, KE and Newton, PCD
Keywords:	global warming, elevated CO2, ecology, ecosystem, FACE
Journal or Publication Title:	Australian Journal of Botany
ISSN:	0067-1924
DOI / ID Number:	10.1071/BT04194
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