Effect of Seed Size on Seedling Growth Response to Elevated CO₂ in Picea abies and Picea rubens

Abstract

Several previous studies have observed that species and individuals with large seeds respond more positively to elevated CO₂ than those with small seeds. We explored the reasons for this pattern by examining the relationship between seed size and CO₂ response in Picea abies and P. rubens using growth analysis. The large seeded species (P. abies) responded more positively to elevated CO₂ than the small seeded species (P. rubens). At the intraspecific level, P. abies individuals from large seeds responded more positively to elevated CO₂ than individuals from small seeds, however, there was no significant intraspecific variation in CO₂ response in P. rubens. The greater CO₂ response of plants from large seeds was not simply the result of a larger starting capital compounded at the same rate as in plants from small seeds. Elevated CO₂ increased relative growth rate to a greater extent in individuals from large seeds. This effect appears to be related to differences in time of establishment, source to sink ratio and nutrient availability with seed size. These results are significant not only in understanding the potential effect of rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations on plant populations, but also in understanding the factors affecting plant success at current atmospheric CO₂ levels due to the elevation of CO₂ within the litter layer that occurs at many germination sites.

Key words

Functional group - seed size - elevated CO₂ - growth analysis - source : sink ratio - nitrogen availability.

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Editor: R. C. Leegood