Can bryophyte groups increase functional resolution in tundra ecosystems?

• Published in: Arctic Science
• Main Authors: Lett, S., Jónsdóttir, I. S., Becker-Scarpitta, A., Christiansen, C. T., During, H., Ekelund, F., Henry, G. H. R., Lang, S. I., Michelsen, A., Rousk, K., Alatalo, J. M., Betway, K. R., Rui, S. B., Callaghan, T., Carbognani, M., Cooper, E. J., Cornelissen, J. H. C., Dorrepaal, E., Egelkraut, D., Elumeeva, T. G., Haugum, S. V., Hollister, R. D., Jägerbrand, A. K., Keuper, F., Klanderud, K., Lévesque, E., Liu, X., May, J., Michel, P., Mörsdorf, M., Petraglia, A., Rixen, C., Robroek, B. J. M., Rzepczynska, A. M., Soudzilovskaia, N. A., Tolvanen, A., Vandvik, V., Volkov, I., Volkova, I., van Zuijlen, K.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Arctic–Alpine; Environmental change; Functional traits; Mosses; Water holding capacity; Mousses; Arctique–Alpin; Changement environnemental; Traits fonctionnels; Capacité de rétention d’eau; Arctic; Arctique*; Tundra
• Online Access: https://depot-e.uqtr.ca/id/eprint/11068/; https://depot-e.uqtr.ca/id/eprint/11068/1/LEVESQUE_E_181_ED.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2020-0057

Abstract The relative contribution of bryophytes to plant diversity, primary productivity, and ecosystem functioning increases towards colder climates. Bryophytes respond to environmental changes at the species level, but because bryophyte species are relatively difficult to identify, they are often lumped into one functional group. Consequently, bryophyte function remains poorly resolved. Here, we explore how higher resolution of bryophyte functional diversity can be encouraged and implemented in tundra ecological studies. We briefly review previous bryophyte functional classifications and the roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems and their susceptibility to environmental change. Based on shoot morphology and colony organization, we then propose twelve easily distinguishable bryophyte functional groups. To illustrate how bryophyte functional groups can help elucidate variation in bryophyte effects and responses, we compiled existing data on water holding capacity, a key bryophyte trait. Although plant functional groups can mask potentially high interspecific and intraspecific variability, we found better separation of bryophyte functional group means compared with previous grouping systems regarding water holding capacity. This suggests that our bryophyte functional groups truly represent variation in the functional roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems. Lastly, we provide recommendations to improve the monitoring of bryophyte community changes in tundra study sites. Résumé La contribution relative des bryophytes à la diversité végétale, à la productivité primaire et au fonctionnement des écosystèmes s’accroît vers les climats plus froids. Les bryophytes répondent aux changements environnementaux au niveau de l’espèce, mais puisque les espèces de bryophytes sont relativement difficiles à identifier, elles sont souvent regroupées en un seul groupe fonctionnel. Par conséquent, la fonction des bryophytes reste mal résolue. Les auteurs explorent ici comment une meilleure résolution de la diversité ...