Final answer:
Research suggests that cool-season turfgrasses may be more tolerant to atmospheric pollution than warm-season turfgrasses due to their physiological adaptations and growth patterns. However, climate change poses additional challenges for plant health, including the potential for increased pest infestations due to milder winters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the resilience of cool-season turfgrasses in the face of atmospheric pollution compared to warm-season turfgrasses. Scientific research suggests that plants, including turfgrasses, may experience altered tolerances to chemicals and changing environmental conditions due to climate change factors such as elevated atmospheric CO₂. For instance, some C₃ grasses have shown increased tolerance to glyphosate-based herbicides under higher CO₂ levels, which may be linked to a higher rate of biomass production that dilutes the herbicide concentration.
In terms of adapting to environmental stressors like atmospheric pollution, cool season turfgrasses, which are generally C₃ plants, might be better equipped to handle the conditions associated with urban areas and climate change. This could be due to their growth patterns, which favor cooler and transitional seasonal periods and might coincide with their increased vigor and possible physiological advantages under certain pollution stresses.
However, future climate scenarios also present challenges, such as the potential for shorter and milder winters, which can fail to kill off pests, leading to bigger infestations and lower plant productivity. The specific impact on turfgrasses will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the type of turfgrass, the specific pollutants involved, and localized climate conditions.