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Potential NH4+ and NO3 uptake in seven Sphagnum species

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 1998

J. JAUHIAINEN
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Joensuu, POB 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland
B. WALLÉN
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Ecology, Ecology Building, University of Lund, S-22362 Lund, Sweden
N. MALMER
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Ecology, Ecology Building, University of Lund, S-22362 Lund, Sweden
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Abstract

The rate of nitrogen uptake by seven Sphagnum species, which from a gradient from hummock to hollow and from ombrotrophic to minerotrophic conditions, was measured as the decrease in the concentrations of NH4+ and NO3 from solutions in which capitula were grown under laboratory conditions.

The highest uptake rate was by individuals of each species with large capitula and a high number of ion exchange sites, i.e. lawn species (S. pulchrum, S. fallax, S. papillosum and S. magellanicum). On a dry-mass basis, the most effective species were the hummock species (S. fuscum and S. rubellum), even though these species have a low dry mass. Hummock species, which occur in high densities and have high potential N-uptake rates on a dry-mass basis, were the most effective species in retaining available nitrogen.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Trustees of the New Phytologist 1998

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