Can bryophyte groups increase functional resolution in tundra ecosystems?

Signe Lett*, Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir, Antoine Becker-Scarpitta, Casper T. Christiansen, Heinjo During, Flemming Ekelund, Gregory H.R. Henry, Simone I. Lang, Anders Michelsen, Kathrin Rousk, Juha M. Alatalo, Katlyn R. Betway, Sara B. Rui, Terry Callaghan, Michele Carbognani, Elisabeth J. Cooper, J. Hans C. Cornelissen, Ellen Dorrepaal, Dagmar Egelkraut, Tatiana G. ElumeevaSiri V. Haugum, Robert D. Hollister, Annika K. Jägerbrand, Frida Keuper, Kari Klanderud, Esther Lévesque, Xin Liu, Jeremy May, Pascale Michel, Martin Mörsdorf, Alessandro Petraglia, Christian Rixen, Bjorn J.M. Robroek, Agnieszka M. Rzepczynska, Nadejda A. Soudzilovskaia, Anne Tolvanen, Vigdis Vandvik, Igor Volkov, Irina Volkova, Kristel van Zuijlen

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    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.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)609-637
    Number of pages29
    JournalArctic Science
    Volume8
    Issue number3
    Early online date30 Aug 2021
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2022

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    This study was supported by a grant to SL from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie, Grant No. 797446 and by the Independent Research Fund Denmark, Grant no. 0135-00140B. Funding from the Academy of Finland (grant 322266), National Science Foundation (1504224, 1836839, PLR-1504381 and PLR-1836898), Independent Research Fund Denmark (9040-00314B), Moscow State University, (project No 121032500089-1), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, ArcticNet, Polar Continental Shelf Program, Northern Science Training Program, Polar Knowledge Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Tomsk State University competitiveness improvement program and the Russian Science Foundation (grant No 20-67-46018) are gratefully acknowledged. Matthias Ahrens provided valuable insights on the cushion growth form, and we are most thankful. We thank Gaius Shaver and two anonymous reviewers for providing valuable critique and input to earlier versions of this manuscript.

    Publisher Copyright:
    © the author(s) or their institution(s).

    Funding

    This study was supported by a grant to SL from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie, Grant No. 797446 and by the Independent Research Fund Denmark, Grant no. 0135-00140B. Funding from the Academy of Finland (grant 322266), National Science Foundation (1504224, 1836839, PLR-1504381 and PLR-1836898), Independent Research Fund Denmark (9040-00314B), Moscow State University, (project No 121032500089-1), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, ArcticNet, Polar Continental Shelf Program, Northern Science Training Program, Polar Knowledge Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Tomsk State University competitiveness improvement program and the Russian Science Foundation (grant No 20-67-46018) are gratefully acknowledged. Matthias Ahrens provided valuable insights on the cushion growth form, and we are most thankful. We thank Gaius Shaver and two anonymous reviewers for providing valuable critique and input to earlier versions of this manuscript.

    FundersFunder number
    Gaius Shaver
    National Science Foundation1504224, PLR-1836898, PLR-1504381, 9040-00314B, 1836839
    National Science Foundation
    Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
    H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions797446
    H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
    ArcticNet
    Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
    Academy of Finland322266
    Academy of Finland
    Russian Science Foundation20-67-46018
    Russian Science Foundation
    Tomsk State University
    Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond0135-00140B
    Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond
    Lomonosov Moscow State University121032500089-1
    Lomonosov Moscow State University

      Keywords

      • Arctic–Alpine
      • environmental change
      • functional traits
      • mosses
      • water holding capacity

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