RISING CO_2 plants and biodiversity

摘要

The prospect of increased atmospheric CO_2 has long interested biologists, not only because of the potential impacts on plants due to CO_2-driven climate change, but because CO_2 also stimulates plant growth. CO_2 is a vital ingredient of photosynthesis - the biochemical reaction through which most plants metabolise CO_2 and water into plant sugars - and higher CO_2 levels increase the rate of photosynthesis. However, Australia's water scarcity and nitrogen-poor soils mean that increased atmospheric CO_2 is likely to have limited plant growth benefits. It could also reduce our plant and animal biodiversity. This is not just because increased atmospheric CO_2 will increase temperatures and reduce rainfall in some areas, but because plants that benefit from higher CO_2 may have adverse impacts on native animals and other plants.