Table of Contents

 Introduction

Global atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased 30% since the beginning of the industrial revolution and is predicted to double by the end of the next century (Schlesinger, 1991).  Understanding how present vegetation responds to CO₂ enrichment with  respect to photosynthesis, reproductive and vegetative output is critical to predicting future carbon sequestration, community composition and ecosystem regeneration.  Looking at how plants' reproductive characteristics will be affected is especially important because it is through changes in fitness that plants will express many of the ecological and evolutionary consequences of elevated CO₂.  This site is a review of research done in the past two decades, specifically focusing on reproductive responses to CO₂ enrichment.

          Global change sites of interest:

        http://www.GCTE.org
        http://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/md/param_search/BIOSPHERE.html?homepage#BIOSPHERE.VEGETATION
 
 

   This page was created by Shannon L. LaDeau