The article, Plants and CO

2
: Too much of a good thing? by Evan Galloway shows
interesting effects of CO
2
on plants. Usually, many news articles warn people about the
critical rise of CO
2
in the atmosphere. Many people are prone to think that plants and trees
as potential saviors, for they can absorb enough CO
2
to hinder global warming. On the other
hand, many scientists are skeptical about plants absorbing enough CO
2
. Normally, plants
respond to the high CO
2
level by consuming more and more CO
2
. According to recent study
by Arnold J. Bloom and his colleagues, it is revealed that plants CO
2
absorption and plant
growth have begun to flatten, especially under high CO
2
concentrations. The first thing the
Bloom and his team found out is that high carbon dioxide levels hamper the plants intake of
nitrate, which is a critical source of nitrogen for plants.
Most people are familiar with the idea of photosynthesis, which is the process of
getting sugar for plants by converting carbon dioxide. There is also a process called
photorespiration, which is conversion of oxygen, not CO
2
. Strangely, photorespiration rarely
occurs, providing no energy and not absorbing CO
2
. The main problem between these two
processes is that the balance varies with how much concentration of oxygen and carbon
dioxide are in the air. For example, when CO
2
level is elevated, photosynthesis increases and
photorespiration decreases.
Another way plants obtain nitrogen is by absorbing nitrate and ammonium. Both of
these two compounds, NO3
-
and NH
3
, have nitrogen in them. Interestingly, Bloom and his
colleagues experiment shows the different ways of getting nitrogen. The first thing that the
team did was isolating plants from any source of nitrogen for a certain period of time,
making plants to grow in normal atmospheric condition. Then, scientists elevated the CO
2
level in the air. Later, they measured how much nitrate is remaining in both the soil and the
air near the plants. The measured data of nitrate remaining in the soil tells scientists how
much nitrate the plant absorbed. The difference between the amount of nitrate remaining in
the soil and in the air is the amount actually used by plant as nitrogen. Using an analogy to
human body, the amount of nutrient that human consumes and actually remains in the body
are different because some of the nutrients go out as wastes. The amount actually observed
by the plant is called assimilation. After further research, scientists found out that
photorespiration causes the plants cells to produce chemical component that prevents
assimilation of nitrates. Therefore, the Bloom and his colleagues study found that as CO2
levels rise, plants would become less strong and less nutritious.
I think that this topic is significant. According to the article, as the CO2 levels rise, the
photorespiration decreases, and the decreased photorespiration hamper the assimilation of
plants. If this kind of chain reaction happens throughout the world, the human race will face
food crisis. When there is lower protein in crops, people will consume more and more crops
to meet their nutritional requirements. This article is very specific and easy to understand
because it provides all the explanations of certain scientific terms. The step-by-step
explanation helped me to understand how CO2 affects plants and eventually will affect
humans. Most importantly, the author of the article reminded me the negative influences the
excess amount of nitrogen brings.
The elevated levels of CO2 will eventually weaken the plants, not strengthen them.
Majority of people think that plants are the major species that consumes CO2, but the recent
study by Bloom and his team showed the right opposite result. When the CO2s
concentration rises, the photorespiration decreases and finally hampers the assimilation. For
further research, I would like to learn more about what other negative effects CO2 has, such
as acid rain or making holes in ozone layer.

Bibliography
1) Ricketts, C. (n.d.). Climate Change. Retrieved September 26, 2014, from
http://www.earthtimes.org/encyclopaedia/environmental-issues/climate-change/
2) How Do We Know? Carbon Dioxide And Global Warming. (2013, July 23).
Retrieved September 26, 2014, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qADD1Y886rI
3) Galloway, E. (2010, June 1). Plants and CO2: Too Much of a Good Thing?
Retrieved September 26, 2014, from http://tsof.infobaselearning.com/main-
articles/p/plants-and-co2-too-much-of-a-good-thing.aspx?q=good thing