Root biomass and production by two cushion plant species of tropical high-elevation peatlands in the Andean páramo
High-elevation peatlands in the Andes are receiving increasing attention for their biodiversity and their high rates of carbon accumulation. However, the ecology of these peatlands and the environmental factors that control their carbon dynamics remain under-studied. Here we report on the patterns o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Society
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Mires and Peat |
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| Online Access: | http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map27/map27_18.pdf |
| _version_ | 1827850840183930880 |
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| author | Esteban Suárez Segundo Chimbolema Rodney A. Chimner Erik A. Lilleskov |
| author_facet | Esteban Suárez Segundo Chimbolema Rodney A. Chimner Erik A. Lilleskov |
| author_sort | Esteban Suárez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | High-elevation peatlands in the Andes are receiving increasing attention for their biodiversity and their high rates of carbon accumulation. However, the ecology of these peatlands and the environmental factors that control their carbon dynamics remain under-studied. Here we report on the patterns of root biomass productivity and turnover rates for two cushion plant species (Distichia muscoides, Plantago rigida) that commonly dominate high-elevation peatlands (> 4200 m a.s.l.) in the Andean páramo landscape of Northern Ecuador. Root biomass for P. rigida ranged from 680 to 864 g m-2 and was approximately 40 % higher than for D. muscoides (507–620 g m-2). In contrast, root production was almost twice as high for D. muscoides (2000–2800 g m-2 yr-1) than for P. rigida (1030–1080 g m-2 yr-1). These patterns resulted in high root turnover rates, especially for D. muscoides (0.98–1.90 yr-1). Below-ground productivity (as C) at our sites conservatively ranged from 0.55 to 1.5 kg m–2 yr–1, representing approximately 30 % of the estimated total productivity for these species, which only accounts for root production down to 50 cm depth. These high productivity rates are in accordance with the extremely high rates of carbon accumulation that have been reported for high-elevation peatlands of the Andes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:24:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-28c8aac7afa945c5bb0823c52a63a8d8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1819-754X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:24:22Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mires and Peat |
| spelling | doaj.art-28c8aac7afa945c5bb0823c52a63a8d82023-09-02T09:49:33ZengInternational Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland SocietyMires and Peat1819-754X2021-07-0127181910.19189/MaP.2020.OMB.StA.2131Root biomass and production by two cushion plant species of tropical high-elevation peatlands in the Andean páramoEsteban Suárez0Segundo Chimbolema1Rodney A. Chimner2Erik A. Lilleskov3Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales/Instituto Biosfera, Quito, EcuadorUniversidad San Francisco de Quito, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales/Instituto Biosfera, Quito, EcuadorMichigan Technological University, College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Houghton, MI, USAUSDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, Climate, Fire and Carbon Cycle Sciences Unit, Houghton, MI, USAHigh-elevation peatlands in the Andes are receiving increasing attention for their biodiversity and their high rates of carbon accumulation. However, the ecology of these peatlands and the environmental factors that control their carbon dynamics remain under-studied. Here we report on the patterns of root biomass productivity and turnover rates for two cushion plant species (Distichia muscoides, Plantago rigida) that commonly dominate high-elevation peatlands (> 4200 m a.s.l.) in the Andean páramo landscape of Northern Ecuador. Root biomass for P. rigida ranged from 680 to 864 g m-2 and was approximately 40 % higher than for D. muscoides (507–620 g m-2). In contrast, root production was almost twice as high for D. muscoides (2000–2800 g m-2 yr-1) than for P. rigida (1030–1080 g m-2 yr-1). These patterns resulted in high root turnover rates, especially for D. muscoides (0.98–1.90 yr-1). Below-ground productivity (as C) at our sites conservatively ranged from 0.55 to 1.5 kg m–2 yr–1, representing approximately 30 % of the estimated total productivity for these species, which only accounts for root production down to 50 cm depth. These high productivity rates are in accordance with the extremely high rates of carbon accumulation that have been reported for high-elevation peatlands of the Andes.http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map27/map27_18.pdfcayambe-coca npchakanaecuadordistichia muscoidesplantago rigida |
| spellingShingle | Esteban Suárez Segundo Chimbolema Rodney A. Chimner Erik A. Lilleskov Root biomass and production by two cushion plant species of tropical high-elevation peatlands in the Andean páramo Mires and Peat cayambe-coca np chakana ecuador distichia muscoides plantago rigida |
| title | Root biomass and production by two cushion plant species of tropical high-elevation peatlands in the Andean páramo |
| title_full | Root biomass and production by two cushion plant species of tropical high-elevation peatlands in the Andean páramo |
| title_fullStr | Root biomass and production by two cushion plant species of tropical high-elevation peatlands in the Andean páramo |
| title_full_unstemmed | Root biomass and production by two cushion plant species of tropical high-elevation peatlands in the Andean páramo |
| title_short | Root biomass and production by two cushion plant species of tropical high-elevation peatlands in the Andean páramo |
| title_sort | root biomass and production by two cushion plant species of tropical high elevation peatlands in the andean paramo |
| topic | cayambe-coca np chakana ecuador distichia muscoides plantago rigida |
| url | http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map27/map27_18.pdf |
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