CO2 ENHANCES PRODUCTIVITY, ALTERS SPECIES COMPOSITION, AND REDUCES DIGESTIBILITY OF SHORTGRASS STEPPE VEGETATION.

The article presents a study which aims to explore the CO₂ response of the shortgrass steppe used for livestock grazing in the North American Great Plains. The study uses three with ambient air and three with air CO₂ chambers as well as three unchambered controls to evaluate responses to rising atmospheric CO₂. It also suggests the enhancement of the rising atmospheric CO₂ production of lower quality forage along with a species composition shift.