PLANT-MEDIATED CONTROLS ON NUTRIENT CYCLING IN TEMPERATE FENS AND BOGS

作者：Rien Aerts, Jos T. A. Verhoeven, Dennis F. Whigham · 发表于：Ecology · 年份：1999 · DOI：10.1890/0012-9658(1999)080[2170:pmconc]2.0.co;2 · 被引用次数：337 · 研究领域：Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology、Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics、Botany and Plant Ecology Studies

This paper reports on patterns in plant-mediated processes that determine the rate of nutrient cycling in temperate fens and bogs. We linked leaf-level nutrient dynamics with leaf-litter decomposition and explored how the observed patterns were reflected in nutrient cycling at the ecosystem level. Comparisons were made among growth forms (evergreen and deciduous shrubs and trees, graminoids and Sphagnum mosses) and between mire types (fens and bogs). A literature review showed that the predominant growth form was more important as a determinant of leaf-level nutrient-use efficiency (NUE) than mire type (fen vs. bog). Evergreens had the highest N and P use efficiency. The growth form differences in NUE were mainly determined by differences in N and P concentrations in mature leaves and not by differences in resorption efficiency from senescing leaves. Sphagnum leaves had lower N and P concentrations than the other growth forms, but because of a lack of data on nutrient resorption efficiency the NUE of these mosses could not be calculated. Nitrogen use efficiency did not differ among fen and bog species, whereas bog species had a higher P use efficiency than fen species. However, a complete evaluation of mire-type or growth-form effects on NUE is only possible when data become available about nutrient resorption from senescing Sphagnum leaves. As leaf-level NUE is negatively correlated with leaf-litter nutrient concentrations, there is a direct link between NUE and litter decom...