Effects of CO2 Efflux on Moss Establishment and the Germination of Seeds on a Moss Layer

The capture and underground storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) is being studied as an alternative approach to reducing atmospheric emissions and thereby mitigating the effects of global climate change. However, a main concern with sequestration is the possibility of CO2 leakage. Extreme amounts of CO2 displace oxygen from soil and animal tissues, which leads to root death in vascular plants and death in animals due to oxygen deprivation. Owing to high CO2 emissions from a large, magmatic reservoir, large parts of Mammoth Mountain, CA are devoid of vascular plant life, making it a natural model for studying the consequences of CO2 seepage. Noting the survival of moss species at this site, this study used moss from grassland, desert, and chaparral/scrub habitats to germinate Eschscholzia californica (California poppy) in soil with constant, high CO2 efflux. Successful growth of Syntrichia caninervis demonstrates its potential for restoring areas that have experienced CO2 leakage