Distinct seasonal dynamics of responses to elevated CO2 in two understorey grass species differing in shade-tolerance

Abstract

Understorey plant communities are crucial to maintain species diversity and ecosystem processes including nutrient cycling and regeneration of overstorey trees. Most studies exploring effects of elevated CO2 concentration ([CO2]) in forests have, however, been done on overstorey trees, while understorey communities received only limited attention. The hypothesis that understorey grass species differ in shade-tolerance and development dynamics, and temporally exploit different niches under elevated [CO2], was tested during the fourth year of [CO2] treatment. We assumed stimulated carbon gain by elevated [CO2] even at low light conditions in strongly shade-tolerant Luzula sylvatica, while its stimulation under elevated [CO2] in less shade-tolerant Calamagrostis arundinacea was expected only in early spring when the tree canopy is not fully developed. We found evidence supporting this hypothesis. While elevated [CO2] stimulated photosynthesis in L. sylvatica mainly in the peak of the growing season (by 55%–57% in July and August), even at low light intensities (50 µmol m−2 s−1), stimulatory effect of [CO2] in C. arundinacea was found mainly under high light intensities (200 µmol m−2 s−1) at the beginning of the growing season (increase by 171% in May) and gradually declined during the season. Elevated [CO2] also substantially stimulated leaf mass area and root-to-shoot ratio in L. sylvatica, while only insignificant increases were observed in C. arundinacea. Our physiological and morphological analyses indicate that understorey species, differing in shade-tolerance, under elevated [CO2] exploit distinct niches in light environment given by the dynamics of the tree canopy.