1. José David Centeno Pagán
Can high levels of CO2 in the atmosphere
be benefical or harmful for plants
BIOL 3009
RISE Program

2. Introduction
The amount of CO2 on the atmosphere has greatly
increased on the last decades and will continue to due so.
This affects the temperature and weather patterns of our
planet.

4. Objetives

To determine whether or not the rising levels of C02 and
the climate changes it causes endanger or reinforce
plant development.

To see if and to what degree do the specimens adapt to
the enviromental changes.

5. Photosynthesis
http://www.dormgrow.com/led-
technology

6. Arguments

Many deny “man made Global Warming“ argumenting that,
since plants need CO2 for their growth, then more of it should
be better.

However, the "more is better" philosophy is not the way things
work. There is a wiser saying, "Too much of a good thing can be
a bad.

7. Hypothesis

Plants with equally increased CO2 and H2O will adapt.
Probably increasing their photosynthetic ability. The
other plant groups probably will stay unaffected or won't
develop properlly.

8. Methodology #1

Timeline - 8 to 10 months.

I will make 4 groups of 15 A. thalihana each.

Plants will be observed and measured every two day.

10 of the offsprings will be planted in the same
controlled environment.

9. Methodology #2

Group A - Will be exposed to high levels of CO2 and
H2O.

Group B - Will be exposed to high amounts of CO2 and low
levels of H20.

Group C - Will be expose only to high amounts of CO2.

Group D - Will be the control.

10. Arabidopsis thaliana

It has been extensively studied.

It has a fast development.

It produces many seeds.

It's a relatively small plant.
http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/micrornas-in-arabidopsis-
14200525

11. CO2 tanks and sprinklers
http://www.sanantoniolandscapings
ervices.com/images/sprinkler3.jpg

12. Controlled Environments
http://www.crida.in/OTC-
Facility.jpg

13. Cleanroom Suit and Integrated
Fluorometerhttp://www.adc.co.uk/products/ifl-integrated-
fluorometer-gas-exchange-system/http://cleanroom.net/?p=2146

14. References

Milcu A, Lukac M, Subke J A, Manning P,Heinemeyer
A,Wildman D, Anderson R & Ineson P. Nature Climate Change
2, 281-284 (2012) doi:10.1038/nclimate1448

Arabidopsis. (n.d.). U.S National Library of Medicine. Retrieved
June 30, 2014, from
http://www.nih.gov/science/models/arabidopsis/

Carbon Dioxide at NOAA's Mauna Loa Observatory reaches
new milestone: Tops 400 ppm. (2013, May 10). ESRL News.
Retrieved June 30, 2014, from
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/news/2013/CO2400.html