© 1995 Heron Publishing—Victoria, Canada
Atmospheric CO2 and the ratio of intercellular to ambient CO2 concentrations in plants
James R. Ehleringer (1) and Thure E. Cerling (2)
1. Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA / 2. Department of Geology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA / Received October 8, 1993
Summary
Much attention is focused today on predicting how plants will respond to anticipated changes in atmospheric composition and
climate, and in particular to increases in CO2 concentration. Here we review the long-term global fluctuations in atmospheric CO2 concentration as a framework for understanding how current trends in atmospheric CO2 concentration fit into a selective, evolutionary context. We then focus on an integrated approach for understanding how gas
exchange metabolism responds to current environmental conditions, how it previously responded to glacial–interglacial conditions,
and how it may respond to future changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration.
Keywords:
carbon dioxide, carbon isotope ratio, global change, intercellular carbon dioxide.
