Controls over nutrient flow through plants and microbes in Arctic tundra. Final technical report

• Main Author: Chapin, F. S., III
• Other Authors: United States. Department of Energy.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: University of California, Berkeley 1995
• Subjects: Chemicals Monitoring And Transport; Plants; 540220; Nutrients 550500; Metabolism; 59 Basic Biological Sciences; Mathematical Models; Uptake; 54 Environmental Sciences; Nitrogen; Phenology; Comparative Evaluations; Tundra; Arctic Regions; Plant Growth; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2172/10107106; https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1273795/

We successfully developed a series of models to explore the importance of species differences in phenologies of growth and nitrogen uptake to competitive interactions in upland tussock tundra. We developed growth models for 4 major tussock tundra species, based on observed growth rates and phenologies. We found that differences in phenology and nutrient use strategy could permit coexistence of some, but not all of the tundra plants modeled. The plant that was the best competitor, because of its rapid growth rate and superior ability to retranslocate nitrogen, may be naturally limited in its competitive ability by its tussock growth form. The mechanisms behind this limitation, and the contributions of patterns of mortality to observed production, will be explored in future modeling and experimental studies. In addition, our models point out that our understanding of the dynamics of nitrogen supply is still inadequate.