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The role of mosses in carbon uptake and partitioning in arctic vegetation
Author(s) -
Street Lorna E.,
Subke JensArne,
Sommerkorn Martin,
Sloan Victoria,
Ducrotoy Helene,
Phoenix Gareth K.,
Williams Mathew
Publication year - 2013
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 - 10.1111/nph.12285
Subject(s) - sphagnum , arctic vegetation , shrub , arctic , vegetation (pathology) , environmental science , moss , ecosystem , biomass (ecology) , tundra , botany , biogeochemical cycle , peat , ecology , biology , medicine , pathology
Summary The Arctic is already experiencing changes in plant community composition, so understanding the contribution of different vegetation components to carbon ( C ) cycling is essential in order to accurately quantify ecosystem C balance. Mosses contribute substantially to biomass, but their impact on carbon use efficiency ( CUE ) – the proportion of gross primary productivity ( GPP ) incorporated into growth – and aboveground versus belowground C partitioning is poorly known. We used 13 C pulse‐labelling to trace assimilated C in mosses ( Sphagnum sect. Acutifolia and Pleurozium schreberi ) and in dwarf shrub– P. schreberi vegetation in sub‐Arctic Finland. Based on 13 C pools and fluxes, we quantified the contribution of mosses to GPP , CUE and partitioning. Mosses incorporated 20 ± 9% of total ecosystem GPP into biomass. CUE of Sphagnum was 68–71%, that of P. schreberi was 62–81% and that of dwarf shrub– P. schreberi vegetation was 58–74%. Incorporation of C belowground was 10 ± 2% of GPP , while vascular plants alone incorporated 15 ± 4% of their fixed C belowground. We have demonstrated that mosses strongly influence C uptake and retention in Arctic dwarf shrub vegetation. They increase CUE , and the fraction of GPP partitioned aboveground. Arctic C models must include mosses to accurately represent ecosystem C dynamics.