Swift recovery of Sphagnum nutrient concentrations after excess supply

• Published in: Oecologia Vol. 157; no. 1; pp. 153 - 161
• Main Authors: Limpens, Juul, Heijmans, Monique M. P. D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.08.2008; Springer; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: adverse effects; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; atmospheric nitrogen deposition; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; bog; Bogs; boreal forest; Ecology; Ecosystem; Ecosystem recovery; ecosystems; Fallax; Fertilization; Forest ecosystems; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Global Change Ecology - Original Paper; growth; growth & development; Hydrology/Water Resources; Inflorescences; issues and policy; Life Sciences; metabolism; mosses; Nitrogen; Nitrogen - metabolism; nitrogen content; Nitrogen deposition; Nutrient allocation; Nutrient concentrations; nutrient content; Nutrient excess; Nutrient uptake; Nutrients; Peat; Peatlands; Phosphorus; Phosphorus - metabolism; phosphorus availability; Plant Sciences; Plant Stems; Plant Stems - metabolism; resorption; Sphagnopsida; Sphagnopsida - growth & development; Sphagnopsida - metabolism; Sphagnum; Sphagnum fallax; Sphagnum magellanicum; Synecology; Time Factors; Translocation; Vascular plants; Vegetation; Translocation; Ecosystem recovery; Phosphorus; Nitrogen deposition; Nutrient allocation; Atmospheric fallout; Bryophyta; Nitrogen; Sphagnobrya; Peat bog; Sphagnum; Concentration measurement; Stagnant water; Ecosystem; Nutrient; Ecological recovery
• ISSN: 0029-8549; 1432-1939
• DOI: 10.1007/s00442-008-1046-6

Although numerous studies have addressed the effects of increased N deposition on nutrient-poor environments such as raised bogs, few studies have dealt with to what extent, and on what time-scale, reductions in atmospheric N supply would lead to recovery of the ecosystems in question. Since a considerable part of the negative effects of elevated N deposition on raised bogs can be related to an imbalance in tissue nutrient concentrations of the dominant peat-former Sphagnum, changes in Sphagnum nutrient concentration after excess N supply may be used as an early indicator of ecosystem response. This study focuses on the N and P concentrations of Sphagnum magellanicum and Sphagnum fallax before, during and after a factorial fertilization experiment with N and P in two small peatlands subject to a background bulk deposition of 2 g N m⁻² year⁻¹. Three years of adding N (4.0 g N m⁻² year⁻¹) increased the N concentration, and adding P (0.3 g P m⁻² year⁻¹) increased the P concentration in Sphagnum relative to the control treatment at both sites. Fifteen months after the nutrient additions had ceased, N concentrations were similar to the control whereas P concentrations, although strongly reduced, were still slightly elevated. The changes in the N and P concentrations were accompanied by changes in the distribution of nutrients over the capitulum and the stem and were congruent with changes in translocation. Adding N reduced the stem P concentration, whereas adding P reduced the stem N concentration in favor of the capitulum. Sphagnum nutrient concentrations quickly respond to reductions in excess nutrient supply, indicating that a management policy aimed at reducing atmospheric nutrient input to bogs can yield results within a few years.