Photosynthetic Responses of Larrea Tridentata to a Step-Increase in Atmospheric CO2at the Nevada Desert FACE Facility

Of all terrestrial ecosystems, the productivity of deserts has been suggested to be the most responsive to increasing atmospheric CO2. The extent to which this prediction holds will depend in part on plant responses to elevated CO2under the highly variable conditions characteristic of arid regions. The photosynthetic responses ofLarrea tridentata , an evergreen shrub, to a step-increase in atmospheric CO2(to 550 μmolmol−1) were examined in the field using Free-Air CO2Enrichment (FACE) under seasonally varying moisture conditions. Elevated CO2substantially increased net assimilation rate (Anet) in Larrea during both moist and dry periods of the potential growing season, while stomatal conductance (gs) did not differ between elevated and ambient CO2treatments. Seasonal and diurnal gas exchange dynamics in elevated CO2mirrored patterns in ambient CO2, indicating that elevated CO2did not extend photosynthetic activity longer into the dry season or during more stressful times of the day. Net assimilation vs. internal CO2(A/Ci) responses showed no evidence of photosynthetic down-regulation during the dry season. In contrast, after significant autumn rains, Amax(the CO2saturated rate of photosynthesis) and CE (carboxylation efficiency) were lower in Larrea under elevated CO2. In situ chlorophyll fluorescence estimation ofLarrea Photosystem II efficiency (Fv/Fm) responded more to water limitation than to elevated CO2. These findings suggest that predictions regarding desert plant responses to elevated CO2should account for seasonal patterns of photosynthetic regulatory responses, which may vary across species and plant functional types.