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Potential NH 4 + and NO 3 − uptake in seven Sphagnum species
Author(s) -
JAUHIAINEN J.,
WALLÉN B.,
MALMER N.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-8137.1998.00110.x
Subject(s) - ombrotrophic , sphagnum , botany , nitrogen , bog , lawn , dry weight , chemistry , biology , environmental chemistry , peat , ecology , organic chemistry
The rate of nitrogen uptake by seven Sphagnum species, which from a gradient from hummock to hollow and from ombrotrophic to minerotrophic conditions, was measured as the decrease in the concentrations of NH 4 + and NO 3 − from solutions in which capitula were grown under laboratory conditions. The highest uptake rate was by individuals of each species with large capitula and a high number of ion exchange sites, i.e. lawn species ( S. pulchrum , S. fallax , S. papillosum and S. magellanicum ). On a dry‐mass basis, the most effective species were the hummock species ( S. fuscum and S. rubellum ), even though these species have a low dry mass. Hummock species, which occur in high densities and have high potential N‐uptake rates on a dry‐mass basis, were the most effective species in retaining available nitrogen.