Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T04:31:14.817Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Potential NH4+ and NO3− uptake in seven Sphagnum species

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 1998

J. JAUHIAINEN ,
B. WALLÉN  and
N. MALMER
J. JAUHIAINEN
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Joensuu, POB 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland
B. WALLÉN
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Ecology, Ecology Building, University of Lund, S-22362 Lund, Sweden
N. MALMER
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Ecology, Ecology Building, University of Lund, S-22362 Lund, Sweden
Get access

Abstract

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 NH4+ and NO3− 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.

Keywords

Sphagnumammonianitrateion uptakeecology
Type
Research Article
Information
The New Phytologist , Volume 138 , Issue 2 , February 1998 , pp. 287 - 293
Copyright
Trustees of the New Phytologist 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)