Team 8 Project in Ecology: The Predicted Effects of Global Warming and Climate Change on Rye Grass
Frank Jiang, Danielle Karacsony, Sophie Lederer, Brian Li, Rachel Mumma, Roma Patel, Jacklyn Pezzato, Kelsey Schroeder
Advisor: Arun Srivastava
Assistant: Gillian Bradley
ABSTRACT
As global warming becomes an increasingly salient problem, its effects must be analyzed from different perspectives. One of the least understood environmental relationships is that between atmospheric carbon dioxide, temperature, and plant biomass. Plants are a necessary recycler of carbon dioxide, so if their growth is accelerated due to global warming, they may be able to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at a faster rate. While studies have initially concluded that elevated carbon dioxide levels indeed facilitate photosynthesis and thus yield greater plant growth, most studies agree that significant uncertainty remains. This lies in the role temperature may play in stunting the terrestrial carbon storage efficiency of soil. As such, a new experiment in which temperature and carbon dioxide levels were manipulated on rye grass was developed. Height of plant growth, carbon-nitrogen soil ratios, and other qualitative characteristics were recorded. Results showed that higher temperatures yielded better plant growth, though this might have also been because of variable light settings or water intake. Carbon dioxide, on the other hand, led to grass with overall greater biomass but less height. These conclusions have several interpretations, so further research is necessary to refine current knowledge on this subject. For instance, if all variables but temperature are controlled, its effects on carbon storage efficiency will be more accurately measured. Other variables, including light and water, can also be better controlled for more precision. With such future steps, the relationship between plant biomass and its environment will be clarified and fully understood.