In: Biology
It is anticipated that as CO2 increases there will be changes in plant communities around the globe. How is this related to the different effect of CO2 on C3 and C4 plants. Be sure and explain what that differential effect is.
When there would be an increase in the Co2 level above the current levels, there would be differences in photosynthetic rates of both C3 as well as C4 rates. Photosynthesis rates increase will be relatively low in the C3 plants. Also, with higher CO2 levels, the stomata pores would be closing up in an increased forms as compared to current levels. This change will take place in both the C3 as well as C4 plants. Also, as a result of this increased closing, there would be reduction in the levels of transpiration in the plants. As a result, with the increase in CO2 levels, there would be increased water efficiency in both the plants.
Also, for the C3 plants, there would be a reduction in photo respiration, as a result, in the C3 plants, there would be an increased efficiency of the C3 plants. At higher CO2 rates, the C3 plants would be able to. Maintain efficient photosynthesis even at higher temperatures. This implies, that there would be an increase in the optimal temperature for photosynthesis for the C3 plants. There is a reduction in the gap of photosynthesic efficiency between the C3 as well as C4 plants.