Predicting the response of plants to increasing carbon dioxide: A critique of plant growth models

It is widely recognized that increasing global carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere may alter the growth of plants. This has lead to speculation about the long-term impact of rising CO2 on agricultural productivity and on natural ecosystems, e.g. shifts in native species distributions and sequestering of carbon in forests. In this paper we critique some existing plant growth models with regard to their potential for predicting and evaluating possible scenarios of vegetation response to elevated CO2 levels. To facilitate this, we present various criteria for model evaluation, specify a minimum set of plant processes that should be considered for inclusion in a generic model capable of predicting plant response to CO2. survey numerous published plant growth models with respect to these criteria, and propose a scheme for identifying the various options available for modeling the response of vegetation to CO2. © 1985.

Duke Scholars

Author James F. Reynolds Environmental Sciences and Policy