Global CO₂ fertilization of Sphagnum peat mosses via suppression of photorespiration during the twentieth century.

ABSTRACT: Natural peatlands contribute significantly to global carbon sequestration and storage of biomass, most of which derives from Sphagnum peat mosses. Atmospheric CO₂ levels have increased dramatically during the twentieth century, from 280 to > 400 ppm, which has affected plant carbon dynamics. Net carbon assimilation is strongly reduced by photorespiration, a process that depends on the CO₂ to O₂ ratio. Here we investigate the response of the photorespiration to photosynthesis ratio in Sphagnum mosses to recent CO₂ increases by comparing deuterium isotopomers of historical and contemporary Sphagnum tissues collected from 36 peat cores from five continents. Rising CO₂ levels generally suppressed photorespiration relative to photosynthesis

SUBMITTER: Serk H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8720097 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature