Pollen production is not as dependent on CO2 as it is on UV and temperature, according to this study. Higher UV and higher temperatures each decreased pollen production, even with higher CO2 levels.
Each plant has its own ideal environment, which is why it is hard to grow palm trees in Michigan or tulips in Texas. Plants and animals will either adapt to their environment, or will be replaced by other plants that better tolerate the environment. And many of the plants that tolerate our increasing urban sprawl and development are non-native and "weed" species, which in a native prairie or savannah are not prevalent species. When a parcel of land is bulldozed and left to lie fallow here, it's not the native grasses that colonize it, it's ragweed and dock and Queen Anne's Lace and chicory and plantain and other species commonly listed as weeds. The grasses are slower to establish and are out-competed before they can get a foothold. Same with trees, a clearcut and stumped or burned oak forest in Northern Michigan will often repopulate with scrub pine and aspen because oaks are so slow to start from seed.
Maybe the increasing CO2 levels will enhance the growth of native species so they can compete with the weeds.
Last edited by Yellowbird; 11/02/0702:36 PM.
Vikki 1969 Goldenrod Yellow / black 400 convertible numbers matching
