Abstract
This study investigates the influence of vegetation composition on carbon (C) sequestration in a moss-dominated ecosystem in the Arctic.
A 13C labelling study in an arctic wet meadow was used to trace assimilate into C pools of differing recalcitrance within grasses and mosses and to determine the retention of C by these plant groups.
Moss retained 70% of assimilated 13C over the month following labelling, which represented half the growing season. By contrast, the vascular plants, comprising mostly grasses, retained only 40%. The mechanism underlying this was that moss allocated 80% of the 13C to recalcitrant C pools, a much higher proportion than in grasses (56%).
This method enabled elucidation of a plant trait that will influence decomposition and hence persistence of assimilated C in the ecosystem. We predict that moss-dominated vegetation will retain sequestered C more strongly than a grass-dominated community. Given the strong environmental drivers that are causing a shift from moss to grass dominance, this is likely to result in a reduction in future ecosystem C sink strength.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 944-949 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | New Phytologist |
| Volume | 184 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 14 Sep 2009 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2009 |
Keywords
- 13C
- Arctic
- carbon
- decomposition sequestration
- grass
- moss
- plant growth form
- climate-change
- habitat degradation
- plant
- tundra
- decomposition
- temperature
- vegetation
- feedbacks
- responses
- turnover
Cite this
Differential allocation of carbon in mosses and grasses governs ecosystem sequestration : a 13C tracer study in the high Arctic. / Woodin, S. J.; Van Der Wal, R.; Sommerkorn, M.; Gornall, J. L.
In: New Phytologist, Vol. 184, No. 4, 12.2009, p. 944-949.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Differential allocation of carbon in mosses and grasses governs ecosystem sequestration
T2 - a 13C tracer study in the high Arctic
AU - Woodin, S. J.
AU - Van Der Wal, R.
AU - Sommerkorn, M.
AU - Gornall, J. L.
PY - 2009/12
Y1 - 2009/12
N2 - This study investigates the influence of vegetation composition on carbon (C) sequestration in a moss-dominated ecosystem in the Arctic. A 13C labelling study in an arctic wet meadow was used to trace assimilate into C pools of differing recalcitrance within grasses and mosses and to determine the retention of C by these plant groups. Moss retained 70% of assimilated 13C over the month following labelling, which represented half the growing season. By contrast, the vascular plants, comprising mostly grasses, retained only 40%. The mechanism underlying this was that moss allocated 80% of the 13C to recalcitrant C pools, a much higher proportion than in grasses (56%). This method enabled elucidation of a plant trait that will influence decomposition and hence persistence of assimilated C in the ecosystem. We predict that moss-dominated vegetation will retain sequestered C more strongly than a grass-dominated community. Given the strong environmental drivers that are causing a shift from moss to grass dominance, this is likely to result in a reduction in future ecosystem C sink strength.
AB - This study investigates the influence of vegetation composition on carbon (C) sequestration in a moss-dominated ecosystem in the Arctic. A 13C labelling study in an arctic wet meadow was used to trace assimilate into C pools of differing recalcitrance within grasses and mosses and to determine the retention of C by these plant groups. Moss retained 70% of assimilated 13C over the month following labelling, which represented half the growing season. By contrast, the vascular plants, comprising mostly grasses, retained only 40%. The mechanism underlying this was that moss allocated 80% of the 13C to recalcitrant C pools, a much higher proportion than in grasses (56%). This method enabled elucidation of a plant trait that will influence decomposition and hence persistence of assimilated C in the ecosystem. We predict that moss-dominated vegetation will retain sequestered C more strongly than a grass-dominated community. Given the strong environmental drivers that are causing a shift from moss to grass dominance, this is likely to result in a reduction in future ecosystem C sink strength.
KW - 13C
KW - Arctic
KW - carbon
KW - decomposition sequestration
KW - grass
KW - moss
KW - plant growth form
KW - climate-change
KW - habitat degradation
KW - plant
KW - tundra
KW - decomposition
KW - temperature
KW - vegetation
KW - feedbacks
KW - responses
KW - turnover
U2 - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.03022.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.03022.x
M3 - Article
VL - 184
SP - 944
EP - 949
JO - New Phytologist
JF - New Phytologist
SN - 0028-646X
IS - 4
ER -