Climate Change Impacts on Plant Biomass Growth

ISBN-13: 9789400753693 / Angielski / Twarda / 2012 / 114 str.

Mohammad Ali

Opis

This book offers a methodical explanation of our biomass-driven ecosystem, the undeniable uncertainties posed by the response of vegetation to changes in environmental conditions and the fact that humans everywhere have an interest, even an obligation, to cooperate in a global campaign to combat climate change.

Spis treści

Contents

I.  Introduction

2. Climate Change: What is in the Name

2.1. Temporal Dimension

2.2. Spatial Dimension

2.3 Event Dimension

2.4. Umbrella Concept

3. The Greenhouse Effect

3.2. Impact of Greenhouse Gases

3.2.1 Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

3.2.2. Methane

3.2.3. Oxides of Nitrogen

3.2.4. Anthropocentric Source of N

3.3. Greenhouse Gases and the Ozone Layer

3.3.1. Reaction of Greenhouse Gases with O3

3.4. Perception of Greenhouse Effect

4. Effects of Climate Change on Vegetation

4.1. The Effect of Increasing CO2 on Vegetation

4.1.1. Aerial Fertilization

4.1.2. Physiological Processes Associated with Enriched CO2

4.1.3. Effect of Enriched CO2 on the Photosynthetic Process

4.1.4. Individual Plant Response to Photosynthetic Change

4.1.5. Allocation of Carbon to Shoot

4.1.6. Carbon Allocation to Roots

4.1.7. Other Responses

4.2. The Effect of Increasing CO2 on the Distribution of Organic Matter and Nitrogen Cycling

4.5. Interaction of CO2 with Other Elements

5: Role of Vegetation in Reducing CO2

5.1 The Vegetation Carbon Balance

5.2. Control Dynamics of C by N

5.3. Growth Enhancement and Reduction of Carbon

5.4. Human Impact on C Dynamics

6: The Carbon Balance in the Managed Forest

6.1. Role of Forest Trees and Their Products

6.1.1. The Forest Floor

6.1.2. The Tree C Pool

6.1.3. Impact of Harvesting on Carbon Pool

6.1.4. Carbon in Wood Products

6.2 The Soil Carbon Cycle

6.2.1 Litter and Slash Input

6.2.2. Decomposition

7. Short and Long Term Resolution

7.1 Aspects of Source-Sink Activity

7.2 Aspects of Plant Growth

7.3. Climate Change Induced Variation

7.4. Aspects of Socio-Economic Conditions

7.5. Aspects of Management Change

7.5.1. Plant Selection and Breeding

7.5.2. Cultural Practice

8. Environmental Regulations on Activities Associated with Enhanced Co2 Concentrations

8.2. Precipitation/Water Availability

8.3. Effects of Elevation and Aspect

8.4. Effects of Drought Conditions

8.5. Effects of Canopy Cover

8.6. Effects of Forest

8.7. Ecological Issues

8.8. Environmental Conditions and Growth Partitioning

8.9. Derived Effects of CO2

8.9.1. Nutrient Availability

8.9.2. Carbon Sequestering

8.9.3. Plant Animal Interaction

8.9.4. Plant-Plant Competition

9. Perspective of Climate Change in Bangladesh

9.1. Emission Problems under the Socio-economic Situation of Bangladesh

9.2. Outline of Climate Change Related Problems of Bangladesh

10. Conclusions

Blurb

Plant biomass plays a crucial role in environment and life. Except for its absorption of solar energy, the earth is a closed system; green biomass is the only part that captures, converts and allocates solar energy to other components and consumers of the ecosystem. Humans occupy almost all positions in the consumer chain, deriving food, fiber, fuel and fodder directly from green biomass and indirectly through other primary and secondary consumers of green plants. Hence, the performance of green biomass is important for smooth functioning of all components of the earth system and for the manner of human existence.

This book defines climate change and describes the greenhouse effect, and goes on to discuss how increased levels of CO2 affect plant life. The author shows how vegetation can play a role in capturing carbon, discussing forest management in short- and long-term resolution of elevated CO2 levels. The description is enhanced by a chapter offering Professor Ali’s perspective on problems related to climate change in Bangladesh.

Environmental changes are cumulative, multifarious, irreversible and borderless; and are likely to cause changes in site, climatic factors, nature and impact of diseases. The effects are more uncertain because different plants will react differently, and because soil conditions will change little over the same time span. Differential growth could change the competitive relationships of species, with resulting effects on community structure and abundance.

The changes could be so abrupt and extremity laden that modern civilization cannot be sustained without international co-operation. No single nation has either the political mandate or economic power to combat climate change alone;  the effort to combat change must be made global. Small and poor countries like Bangladesh, though having little influence on global climate change, would be most harmed; therefore, they should seek co-operation from the international community in joining in the campaign.

This book offers a methodical explanation of our biomass-driven ecosystem, the undeniable uncertainties posed by the response of vegetation to changes in environmental conditions and the fact that humans everywhere have an interest, even an obligation, to cooperate in a global campaign to combat climate change.