Transition zones between vegetation patches in a heterogeneous Arctic landscape: how plant growth and photosynthesis change with abundance at small scales.

Oecologia
Benjamin J FletcherGareth Phoenix

Abstract

Arctic vegetation is often highly heterogeneous, consisting of mosaics of vegetation patches. Vegetation transition zones at the boundaries between patches can therefore make up a significant proportion of the landscape, yet performance of plants in transition zones, compared with their main patches, has not been previously investigated. Not only does this limit our understanding of plant productivity in highly heterogeneous landscapes, this knowledge is also needed to improve our understanding of the controls on Arctic ecosystem productivity, and improve modelling uncertainty in estimates of landscape C fluxes. We investigated changes in annual growth and photosynthetic capacity (A(max)) of two widely distributed dwarf shrubs (Empetrum hermaphroditum and Vaccinium uliginosum) in these species' own patches where they dominate, in transition zones at their patch edges and vegetation beyond these in vegetation where the species had lowest abundance. Maximum shoot growth occurred not in the study species' own patches but in patches where both species mixed with a taller dwarf shrub Betula nana. Here shoot growth was 23 and 25% higher for E. hermaphroditum and V. uliginosum, respectively, compared to within their own patches. Howev...Continue Reading

References

Jun 21, 2002·Nature·Ragan M CallawayBradley J Cook
May 17, 2006·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Brian J McGillMark Westoby

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 26, 2010·Physiologia Plantarum·Stef BokhorstGareth K Phoenix
Jun 12, 2013·Global Change Biology·Peter Christiaan le RouxMiska Luoto
Apr 23, 2019·Journal of Geophysical Research. Earth Surface·Elin HögströmGeorg Pointner

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.