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Effects Of Growth Temperatures And Elevated Co2 On Respiration Rates In Norway Spruce, Yulia Kroner

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Projected increase in growth temperatures and CO₂ may affect carbon balance in Norway spruce (Picea abies), a dominant coniferous species of the boreal forest ecosystem. To examine this, I exposed three-year-old Norway spruce seedlings to six treatments: ambient (400 ppm) and elevated (750 ppm) CO₂ concentrations combined with three growth temperatures: ambient, ambient +4 ^oC, and ambient +8 ^oC. I found that while net growth was generally not affected by growth CO₂ or temperature, leaf nitrogen concentrations were reduced, mortality rates were higher, and needles were shorter and thinner in +8 ^oC …