Enhanced woody biomass production in a mature temperate forest under elevated CO2

R. J. Norby; N. J. Loader; C. Mayoral; S. Ullah; G. Curioni; A. R. Smith; M. K. Reay; Klaske van Wijngaarden; M. S. Amjad; D. Brettle; M. E. Crockatt; G. Denny; R. T. Grzesik; R. L. Hamilton; K. M. Hart; I. P. Hartley; A. G. Jones; A. Kourmouli; J. R. Larsen; Z. Shi; R. M. Thomas; A. R. MacKenzie

doi:10.1038/s41558-024-02090-3

Enhanced woody biomass production in a mature temperate forest under elevated CO2

R. J. Norby, N. J. Loader, C. Mayoral, S. Ullah, G. Curioni, A. R. Smith, M. K. Reay, Klaske van Wijngaarden, M. S. Amjad, D. Brettle, M. E. Crockatt, G. Denny, R. T. Grzesik, R. L. Hamilton, K. M. Hart, I. P. Hartley, A. G. Jones, A. Kourmouli, J. R. Larsen, Z. ShiR. M. Thomas, A. R. MacKenzie

Western Sydney University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Enhanced CO2 assimilation by forests as atmospheric CO2 concentration rises could slow the rate of CO2 increase if the assimilated carbon is allocated to long-lived biomass. Experiments in young tree plantations support a CO2 fertilization effect as atmospheric CO2 continues to increase. Uncertainty exists, however, as to whether older, more mature forests retain the capacity to respond to elevated CO2. Here, aided by tree-ring analysis and canopy laser scanning, we show that a 180-year-old Quercus robur L. woodland in central England increased the production of woody biomass when exposed to free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) for 7 years. Further, elevated CO2 increased exudation of carbon from fine roots into the soil with likely effects on nutrient cycles. The increase in tree growth and allocation to long-lived woody biomass demonstrated here substantiates the major role for mature temperate forests in climate change mitigation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	983-988
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nature Climate Change
Volume	14
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02090-3
Publication status	Published - Sept 2024

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Norby, R. J., Loader, N. J., Mayoral, C., Ullah, S., Curioni, G., Smith, A. R., Reay, M. K., van Wijngaarden, K., Amjad, M. S., Brettle, D., Crockatt, M. E., Denny, G., Grzesik, R. T., Hamilton, R. L., Hart, K. M., Hartley, I. P., Jones, A. G., Kourmouli, A., Larsen, J. R., ... MacKenzie, A. R. (2024). Enhanced woody biomass production in a mature temperate forest under elevated CO2. Nature Climate Change, 14(9), 983-988. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02090-3

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title = "Enhanced woody biomass production in a mature temperate forest under elevated CO2",

abstract = "Enhanced CO2 assimilation by forests as atmospheric CO2 concentration rises could slow the rate of CO2 increase if the assimilated carbon is allocated to long-lived biomass. Experiments in young tree plantations support a CO2 fertilization effect as atmospheric CO2 continues to increase. Uncertainty exists, however, as to whether older, more mature forests retain the capacity to respond to elevated CO2. Here, aided by tree-ring analysis and canopy laser scanning, we show that a 180-year-old Quercus robur L. woodland in central England increased the production of woody biomass when exposed to free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) for 7 years. Further, elevated CO2 increased exudation of carbon from fine roots into the soil with likely effects on nutrient cycles. The increase in tree growth and allocation to long-lived woody biomass demonstrated here substantiates the major role for mature temperate forests in climate change mitigation.",

author = "Norby, {R. J.} and Loader, {N. J.} and C. Mayoral and S. Ullah and G. Curioni and Smith, {A. R.} and Reay, {M. K.} and {van Wijngaarden}, Klaske and Amjad, {M. S.} and D. Brettle and Crockatt, {M. E.} and G. Denny and Grzesik, {R. T.} and Hamilton, {R. L.} and Hart, {K. M.} and Hartley, {I. P.} and Jones, {A. G.} and A. Kourmouli and Larsen, {J. R.} and Z. Shi and Thomas, {R. M.} and MacKenzie, {A. R.}",

year = "2024",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1038/s41558-024-02090-3",

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Norby, RJ, Loader, NJ, Mayoral, C, Ullah, S, Curioni, G, Smith, AR, Reay, MK, van Wijngaarden, K, Amjad, MS, Brettle, D, Crockatt, ME, Denny, G, Grzesik, RT, Hamilton, RL, Hart, KM, Hartley, IP, Jones, AG, Kourmouli, A, Larsen, JR, Shi, Z, Thomas, RM & MacKenzie, AR 2024, 'Enhanced woody biomass production in a mature temperate forest under elevated CO2', Nature Climate Change, vol. 14, no. 9, pp. 983-988. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02090-3

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AU - Norby, R. J.

AU - Loader, N. J.

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AU - Curioni, G.

AU - Smith, A. R.

AU - Reay, M. K.

AU - van Wijngaarden, Klaske

AU - Amjad, M. S.

AU - Brettle, D.

AU - Crockatt, M. E.

AU - Denny, G.

AU - Grzesik, R. T.

AU - Hamilton, R. L.

AU - Hart, K. M.

AU - Hartley, I. P.

AU - Jones, A. G.

AU - Kourmouli, A.

AU - Larsen, J. R.

AU - Shi, Z.

AU - Thomas, R. M.

AU - MacKenzie, A. R.

PY - 2024/9

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N2 - Enhanced CO2 assimilation by forests as atmospheric CO2 concentration rises could slow the rate of CO2 increase if the assimilated carbon is allocated to long-lived biomass. Experiments in young tree plantations support a CO2 fertilization effect as atmospheric CO2 continues to increase. Uncertainty exists, however, as to whether older, more mature forests retain the capacity to respond to elevated CO2. Here, aided by tree-ring analysis and canopy laser scanning, we show that a 180-year-old Quercus robur L. woodland in central England increased the production of woody biomass when exposed to free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) for 7 years. Further, elevated CO2 increased exudation of carbon from fine roots into the soil with likely effects on nutrient cycles. The increase in tree growth and allocation to long-lived woody biomass demonstrated here substantiates the major role for mature temperate forests in climate change mitigation.

AB - Enhanced CO2 assimilation by forests as atmospheric CO2 concentration rises could slow the rate of CO2 increase if the assimilated carbon is allocated to long-lived biomass. Experiments in young tree plantations support a CO2 fertilization effect as atmospheric CO2 continues to increase. Uncertainty exists, however, as to whether older, more mature forests retain the capacity to respond to elevated CO2. Here, aided by tree-ring analysis and canopy laser scanning, we show that a 180-year-old Quercus robur L. woodland in central England increased the production of woody biomass when exposed to free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) for 7 years. Further, elevated CO2 increased exudation of carbon from fine roots into the soil with likely effects on nutrient cycles. The increase in tree growth and allocation to long-lived woody biomass demonstrated here substantiates the major role for mature temperate forests in climate change mitigation.

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EP - 988

JO - Nature Climate Change

JF - Nature Climate Change

IS - 9

ER -

Enhanced woody biomass production in a mature temperate forest under elevated CO2

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