Experimental warming interacts with soil moisture to discriminate plant responses in an ombrotrophic peatland. (26th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Buttler, Alexandre; Robroek, Bjorn J.M.; Laggoun‐Défarge, Fatima; Jassey, Vincent E.J.; Pochelon, Cédric; Bernard, Gregory; Delarue, Frédéric; Gogo, Sébastien; Mariotte, Pierre; Mitchell, Edward A.D.; Bragazza, Luca; Morgan, John
• Is Part Of: Journal of vegetation science. Volume 26:Number 5(2015)
• Page Start: 964
• Page End: 974
• Publication Date: 2015-05-26
• Subjects: Plant ecology -- Periodicals; Plant communities -- Periodicals; Plant populations -- Periodicals; 581.7
• DOI: 10.1111/jvs.12296
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1100-9233

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jvs12296-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jvs12296-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Question</title> <p>A better understanding of the response of <italic>Sphagnum</italic> mosses and associated vascular plants to climate warming is relevant for predicting the carbon balance of peatlands in a warmer world. Open‐top chambers (OTCs) have been used to investigate the effect on soil biogeochemical processes in peatlands, but little information is available on the effects of OTCs on microclimate conditions and the associated response of the plant community. We aimed to understand how simulated warming and differences in soil moisture affect plant species cover.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvs12296-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Location</title> <p>A <italic>Sphagnum</italic>‐dominated peatlands in French Jura.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvs12296-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We used OTCs to measure the effect of a near‐ground temperature increase (+1.5 °C on average) on vegetation dynamics over five growing seasons (2008–2012) in a <italic>Sphagnum</italic>‐dominated peatland, in two adjacent microhabitats with different hydrological conditions – wet and dry. Microclimatic conditions and plant species abundance were monitored at peak biomass in years 1, 2, 3 and 5 and monthly during the plant growing season in year 5.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvs12296-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The response to warming differed between vascular plants and bryophytes, as well as among species within these groups, and also varied in relation to soil moisture. <italic>Andromeda polifolia</italic> abundance responded positively to warming, while <italic>Vaccinium oxycoccus</italic> responded negatively, and <italic>Eriophorum vaginatum</italic> showed a high resistance.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvs12296-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Depth of rooting of vascular plants appeared to control the response in plant abundance, while moss abundance depended on various other interacting factors, such as shading by the vascular plant community, precipitation and soil moisture.</p> </sec> </abstract>