The potential impacts of climate change on both natural and managed ecosystems are far-reaching and are only beginning to be understood. Here we describe a new experiment that aims to determine the impacts of elevated concentration of CO 2 ([CO 2]) and elevated temperature on a native Themeda-Austrodanthonia-dominated grassland ecosystem in south-eastern Tasmania. The experimental site contains 60 vascular plant species. The experiment combines the latest developments in free-air CO 2 enrichment (FACE) technology with the use of infrared (IR) heaters to mimic environmental conditions expected to exist in the year 2050. The CO 2 concentration in the FACE treatments is reliably maintained at 550 μmol mol -1 and leaf temperature is elevated by an average of 2.1°C by the IR treatment, with 1-cm soil temperature being elevated by 0.8°C. Measurements being made in the experiment cover plant ecophysiological responses, plant population dynamics and community interactions. Soil processes and ecosystem effects, including nutrient cycling and plant animal interactions, are also being investigated. Collaborations are invited from interested parties. © CSIRO 2006.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Other biological sciences
Research Field:	Global change biology
Objective Division:	Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards
Objective Group:	Adaptation to climate change
Objective Field:	Social impacts of climate change and variability
UTAS Author:	Hovenden, MJ (Professor Mark Hovenden)
UTAS Author:	Vanderschoor, JK (Mrs Jacqueline Vanderschoor)
UTAS Author:	Wills, KE (Dr Karen Wills)
ID Code:	42542
Year Published:	2006
Web of Science® Times Cited:	44
Deposited By:	Plant Science
Deposited On:	2006-08-01
Last Modified:	2007-05-03
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