February 28, 2007
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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999
FROM VOLUME 6, NUMBER 3, MARCH 1993
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS: VEGETATION AND ECOSYSTEMS
Two items from Clim. Change, 22(4), Dec. 1992:
"Tropical Soils Could Dominate the Short-Term Carbon Cycle Feedbacks to
Increased Global Temperatures," A.R. Townsend (Dept. Biol. Sci., Stanford
Univ., Stanford CA 94305), P.M. Vitousek, E.A. Holland, 293-303. Results of a
simple model of the effects of temperature on net ecosystem production calls
into question the argument that warming in the northern regions will lead to
large releases of carbon to the atmosphere. However, large releases are
projected in the tropics.
"Impacts of Summer Warming on the Energy and Water Balance of Wetland
Tundra," W.R. Rouse (Dept. Geog., McMaster Univ., Hamilton ON L8S 4K1,
Can.), D.W. Carlson, E.J. Weick, 305-326. Measurements made at a high subarctic,
maritime, wetland tundra site are presented for three growing seasons. Concludes
that such tundra growing on peat soils displays feedback mechanisms that can
offset the effects of moisture stress caused by summer warming of a similar
magnitude to that predicted by GCM doubled CO2 runs.
"Mapping Eastern North American Vegetation Change of the Past 18 ka:
No-Analogs and the Future," J.T. Overpeck (NOAA, 325 Broadway, Boulder CO
80303), R.S. Webb, T. Webb III, Geology, 20(12), 1071-1074, Dec.
A new series of paleovegetation maps, based on the method of modern analogs
and an extensive database of modern and fossil pollen data, suggests that
possible future climate changes could force complex changes in natural
vegetation, including the development of biomes without modern analogs.
"Long-Term Response of an Arctic Sedge to Climate Change: A
Simulation Study," P.W. Leadley (Dept. Bot., Duke Univ., Durham NC 27706),
J.F. Reynolds, Ecolog. Applic., 2(4), 323-340, Nov. 1992.
A mechanistic model including the effects of light, temperature, season
length and N availability, applied to the sedge Eriophorum vaginatum,
predicts a slight decrease in peak biomass. Climate change will have substantial
effects only indirectly through changes in N availability.
Two items from Can. J. For. Res., 22(11), Nov. 1992:
"Past and Future Climate Change: Response by Mixed Deciduous Coniferous
Forest Ecosystems in Northern Michigan," A.M. Solomon (U.S. EPA, Corvallis
OR 97333), P.J. Bartlein, 1727-1738. Used proxy climate data derived from pollen
records for the past 10,000 years to drive forest gap models. Resulting
projections were more affected by the rate than by the magnitude of climate
"Predicting Effects of Global Warming on Growth and Mortality of Upland
Oak Species in the Midwestern United States--A Physiologically Based
Dendroecological Approach," D.C. LeBlanc (Dept. Biol., Ball State Univ.,
Muncie IN 47306), J.R. Foster, 1739-1752. Combines an ecophysiological model and
dendroecological analyses to evaluate potential effects on the physiology,
growth and mortality of white and black oak. Warming could increase the
incidence of decline and mortality in upland oak populations.
"Potential Carbon Losses from Peat Profiles--Effects of Temperature,
Drought Cycles and Fire," E.H. Hogg (Dept. For. Sci., 855 Gen. Serv. Bldg.,
Univ. Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Can.), C.J. Lieffers, R.W. Wein, Ecol.
Appl., 2(3), 298-306, Aug. 1992.
Global warming could lead to lowered water tables in peatlands, and
increased fires with resulting changes in peat decomposition. Examined dry mass
losses and CO2 and CH4 emissions from layers of a black spruce peatland under
two moisture treatments, and also simulated the effects of fire.
"Effects of CO2 and Temperature on Growth and Resource Use of
Concurring C3 and C4 Annuals," J.S. Coleman (Dept. Biol., Syracuse Univ.,
Syracuse NY 13244), F.A. Bazzaz, Ecology, 73(4), 1244-1259, Aug.
Examined individuals of Abutilon theophrasti (C3) and Amaranthus
retroflexus (C4). Elevated CO2 and temperature had significant independent
and interactive effects on plant growth, resource allocation and resource
acquisition, the strength of which depended on plant species.
Two items from Environ. Toxicol. & Chem., 11(8), Aug.
"A Global Perspective on Forest Decline," D. Muellerdombois (Dept.
Bot., Univ. Hawaii, Honolulu HI 96822), 1069-1076. Forest declines are occurring
in several Pacific forests completely unaffected by industrial pollution. The
natural cause complexes (demographic, disturbance, biotic components) are placed
in a causal hierarchy theory based on cohort senescence. This may serve as a
framework for comparative ecosystem research of forest declines at the global
"Regional Forest Migrations and Potential Economic Effects," D.G.
Hodges (Dept. For., Mississippi State Univ., PO Drawer FR, Miss. St. MS 39762),
F.W. Cubbage, J.L. Regens, 1129-1136. Rapid temperature increases could cause
considerable stress to trees in the southern part of their range without
commensurate increase in growth in the expanding range. In the southern U.S.
alone, losses could total $300 million for declining timber volume and pulp and
paper yields, and more than $100 million for increased management.
Two items from Forestry Chronicle, 68(4), Aug. 1992:
"Potential Effects of Global Climate Change on the Biodiversity of
Plants," M.W. Schwartz (Illinois Nat. Hist. Surv., 607 E. Peabody Dr.,
Champaign IL 61820), 462-471. Reviews understanding of possible shifts in the
ranges of vegetation species, insects pests and pathogens; response of
vegetation to increased drought stress; and shifts in species composition within
"Breeding Strategies in a Changing Climate and Implications for
Biodiversity," D.P. Fowler (Ctr. Maritime For., Box 400, Fredericton NB E3B
5P7, Can.), J.A. Loodinkins, 472-475. Suggests a three-pronged approach for
mitigating the impacts of climate change in the Maritime provinces of Canada:
development of short rotation clonal forestry; breeding for stability of
genotypes over a range of climatic conditions; collection, storage and testing
of native and nonnative materials of potential value.
"Evidence for Rising Upper Limits of Four Native New Zealand Forest
Trees," P. Wardle (Landcare Res. N. Zealand Ltd., POB 69, Lincoln, New
Zealand), M.C. Coleman, N.Z. J. Bot., 30(3), 303-314, 1992.
Species were studied for evidence of a 100 m rise in their altitudinal
limits, which would be expected to have occurred in response to the observed 0.5°C
increase in regional mean temperature since the 1860s. Results suggest that in
the event of rapid and substantial climatic change, species with intrinsically
slow rates of spread would be unable to keep pace.
"Increased Microbial Immobilization of Nutrients Will Adversely
Affect Afforestation in Dry Tropics during Future Climate Change," S. Roy
(Dept. Bot., Banaras Hindu Univ., Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India), Current
Sci., 62(11), 715-716, June 10, 1992. If afforestation is delayed in
leached, impoverished soils of the dry tropics, global warming and lowered soil
water potential may increase microbial immobilization of soil nutrients,
reducing their availability to plants.
"Will Climate Change Affect Biodiversity in Pacific Northwest
Forests," S. Henderson (U.S. EPA, 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis OR 97333),
B.J. Rosenbaum, Northwest Environ. J., 8(1), 197-199, Spr.-Sum.
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