Differences in Growth and Nutrient use Among Arctic Plant Growth Forms
Chapin FS and Shaver GR. 1989. Differences in Growth and Nutrient use Among Arctic Plant Growth Forms. Functional Ecology. 3(1):73-80
Deciduous species (graminoids, forbs and deciduous shrubs) completed accumulation of biomass, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in new leaves and current year's twigs by midsummer in arctic Alaska, whereas these processes continued throughout the growing season in the same tissue of evergreen shrubs. N- and P-use-efficiency increased from deciduous species to evergreen shrubs to lichens and mosses. Fertilization with N-plus-P had no effect on N-use-efficiency in deciduous leaves but caused a decline in N-use-efficiency in evergreen leaves, mosses and lichens. P-use-efficiency declined with nutrient addition in leaves of all growth forms. Approximately half of the maximum pools of leaf N and P were withdrawn from leaves prior to autumn senescence, but this resorption was unaffected by nutrient addition treatment or by growth form.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Chapin, F; Shaver, G
- Units
- ARCN , BELA , CAKR , GAAR , KOVA , NOAT
- Keywords
- Arctic, Arctic LTER Site, Brooks Range Foothills, growth patterns, nutrient utilization, Nutrients, Physiology, Plants, polar environments, Toolik Lake, Tundra, Vegetation