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Species differ in their responses to global changes such as rising CO₂ and temperature, meaning that global changes are likely to change the structure of plant communities. Such alterations in community composition must be underlain by changes in the population dynamics of component species.

Here, the impact of elevated CO₂ (550 µmol mol⁻¹) and warming (+2°C) on the population growth of four plant species important in Australian temperate grasslands is reported. Data collected from the Tasmanian free‐air CO₂ enrichment (TasFACE) experiment between 2003 and 2006 were analysed using population matrix models.

Population growth of Themeda triandra, a perennial C₄ grass, was largely unaffected by either factor but population growth of Austrodanthonia caespitosa, a perennial C₃ grass, was reduced substantially in elevated CO₂ plots. Warming and elevated CO₂ had antagonistic effects …