How does global warming affect plant growth and distribution?
There has been much talk recently of the rise in carbon dioxide levels observed over the last few decades and its potential impact on global climate and ecosystems. The buildup of carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse” gases can trap heat in the atmosphere, increasing the average temperature on Earth. However, the buildup of carbon dioxide has other effects that are not mentioned nearly as often. An important effect is that of carbon dioxide in chemical reactions that occur in nature because it is an essential component in many of these reactions. One of the main biological interactions involving carbon dioxide is the process of photosynthesis, by which carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is converted into glucose by plants. Available data indicates that a rise in the levels of carbon dioxide would not be devastating for plants, but in fact, might help them. Growth rates of C3 plants have shown to be higher at elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide. Some plants, such as soybeans, have
