Decomposition of Betula papyrifera leaf litter under the independent and interactive effects of elevated CO₂ and O₃

Abstract

Litter decay dynamics of paper birch (Betula papyrifera) were assessed at the Aspen free-air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) facility in northern Wisconsin, USA. Leaf litter was decomposed for 12 months under factorial combinations of 360 vs. 560 µLCO₂ L^-1, crossed with 36 vs. 55 nLO₃ L^-1. To differentiate between substrate quality and environment effects, litterbags were placed in their Native Plots of origin or transplanted into the other treatments.

Keywords

Betula papyrifera, CO2, decomposition, FACE, O3, paper birch

Citation

Parsons, William F.J.; Lindroth, Richard L.; Bockheim, James G. 2004. Decomposition of Betula papyrifera leaf litter under the independent and interactive effects of elevated CO2 and O3. Global Change Biology. 10: 1666-1677.