The Weird World of Plants

As atmospheric CO2 levels rise, it's theorized that trees may enhance their photosynthetic capacity, and increased CO2 uptake from the atmosphere, a phenomenon known as the "CO2 fertilization effect." However, the growth of trees is frequently limited by the availability of nitrogen (N) in soils which could potentially offset this CO2 fertilization effect. Hence, understanding the complex microbial dynamics and tree-microbe interactions that regulate N availability in soils became a crucial aspect for future carbon predictions. I measured N processes in forest soils under the simulated atmosphere of 2050 (+ 150 ppm of CO2) at the BIFoR FACE facility (UK) to predict any future N limitation.

Like us, plants must replace themselves with a new generation. Trees take a ‘grow-slow’ approach to this, but that now leaves them uniquely vulnerable to climate change. Flowering and seed production is already being affected, but we don’t know enough about trees to tell what they will do as the climate changes more. Worse, trees are just too big for standard science in a lab. I am part of an experiment to mimic the atmospheric 50 years into the future to see how this will affect forests. I will share what we have learned so far, and why I think there is still hope for future forests.