Elevated CO2 alters belowground exoenzyme activities in tussock tundra

A three-year exposure to a CO2 concentration of 680 μmol mol-1 altered the enzymic characteristics of root surfaces, associated ectomycorrhizae, and in soils surrounding roots in a tussock tundra ecosystem of north Alaska, USA. At elevated CO2, phosphatase activity was higher on Eriophorum vaginatum root surfaces, ectomycorrhizal rhizomorphs and mantles associated with Betula nana roots, and in Oe and Oi soil horizons associated with plant roots. Also, endocellulase and exocellulase activities at elevated CO2 were higher in ectomycorrhizal rhizomorphs and lower in Oe and Oi soil horizons associated with roots. These results suggest that arctic plants respond to raised CO2 by increasing activities associated with nutrient acquisition, e.g. higher phosphatase activities on surfaces of roots and ectomycorrhizae, and greater cellulase activity in ectomycorrhizae. Changes in enzyme activities of surrounding soils are consistent with an increase in carbon exudation from plant roots, which would be expected to inhibit cellulase activities and stimulate phosphatase activities of soil microflora. These data were used to modify existing simulation models describing tussock phosphatase activities and litter decay. Model projections suggest that observed increases in phosphatase activities at 680 μmol mol-1 CO2 could augment total annual phosphorus release within tussocks by more than 40%, at present levels of root and ectomycorrhizae biomass. This includes a nearly three-fold increase in potential phosphatase activity of E. vaginatum roots, per unit of surface area. Observed reductions in cellulase activities could diminish cellulose turnover by 45% in soils within rooting zones, which could substantially increase mineral nitrogen availability in soils due to lowered microbial immobilization.