How does Vaccinium vitis-idaea respond to the anthropogenic CO2 increase?

Abstract

In order to determine whether Vaccinium vitis-idaea responds to the anthropogenic CO2 increase, stomatal conductance and stomatal frequency were analyzed of fossil material found in a peat core drilled near the North Cape (71° 10’ 21” N, 25° 47’40”E) in Finnish Lapland in 1996. First of all, cuticle morphological characteristics were analyzed and compared with modern material from the Kevo research station for species determination of the fossil material. Vaccinium vitis-idaea leaves have unidirectional oriented stomata, two well-defined polygonal subsidiary cells per stomata and trichomes of 150-200 µm in the alveoli. Stomata and epidermal cell sizes were measured as well. Secondly pore length, guard cell width and stomatal density were determined to determine stomatal conductance. Measurements of stomatal index were used to determine stomatal frequency. Stomatal conductance and stomatal frequency decreased when CO2 levels increased.