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Science 9 September 2005:
Vol. 309. no. 5741, pp. 1711 - 1713
DOI: 10.1126/science.1110700
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Reports

Rising Atmospheric CO2 Reduces Sequestration of Root-Derived Soil Carbon

James Heath,1* Edward Ayres,1{dagger} Malcolm Possell,2 Richard D. Bardgett,1 Helaina I. J. Black,3 Helen Grant,4 Phil Ineson,5 Gerhard Kerstiens1

Forests have a key role as carbon sinks, which could potentially mitigate the continuing increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and associated climate change. We show that carbon dioxide enrichment, although causing short-term growth stimulation in a range of European tree species, also leads to an increase in soil microbial respiration and a marked decline in sequestration of root-derived carbon in the soil. These findings indicate that, should similar processes operate in forest ecosystems, the size of the annual terrestrial carbon sink may be substantially reduced, resulting in a positive feedback on the rate of increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.

1 Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK.
2 Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK.
3 Soil Ecology Group, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK.
4 Natural Environment Research Council Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry Facilities, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK.
5 Stockholm Environment Institute, Biology Department, University of York, Post Office Box 373, York, YO10 5YW, UK.

{dagger} Present address: Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523–1499, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: j.heath{at}lancaster.ac.uk

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