Soil Microbial Responses to Increased Concentrations of Atmospheric CO sub(2)

Increased concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide are expected to have significant impacts on terrestrial ecosystems. Elevated concentrations of CO sub(2) are known to change plant growth and productivity. In addition, higher CO sub(2) levels can influence ecosystem structure and function via impacts on below-ground processes. Accurate knowledge of the ways in which soil microbiota respond to higher concentrations of CO sub(2) is essential to analyses of global C and nutrient cycling and to predicting the likely impacts of such changes at an ecosystem level. Higher CO sub(2) concentrations affect the weight, length, and architecture of plant roots. Additional influences on the biotic and abiotic environment of the roots are also examined.