Effects of an in situ temperature increase on the short-term growth of arctic-alpine bryophytes

This study examined the short-term growth responses to a temperature increase in situ of three bryophytes species of different genera. Temperatures were enhanced by the use of open-top chambers at Latnjajaure, a subarctic-alpine site in northernmost Sweden. Growth was measured during the growing sea...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jägerbrand, Annika K
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Hokkaido University 2007
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Online Access:http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:vti:diva-6784
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Summary:This study examined the short-term growth responses to a temperature increase in situ of three bryophytes species of different genera. Temperatures were enhanced by the use of open-top chambers at Latnjajaure, a subarctic-alpine site in northernmost Sweden. Growth was measured during the growing season of 1995, using the tied-thread method for Aulacomnium turgidum, the cranked-wire method for Sphagnum teres, and the shoot-transplanting method for Tomentypnum nitens. Temperature enhancement significantly increased the growth in length of Sphagnum teres while no significant effects were found for the other two species. One possible reason for this is that Sphagnum teres had more water available, while the other two species could not respond to increased temperature due to constraints of water availability. Copyright © Lindbergia 2007.