The effects of alkalinity and cations on the vitality of Sphagnum palustre L.
Sphagnum mosses are poikilohydric bryophytes, i.e. dependent on nearly-constant wet conditions. Exposure to mineral-enriched water has long been recognised as a threat to Sphagnum mosses and a driver of niche formation. Atrophy of Sphagnum is currently attributed to high pH in combination with high...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Society
2019-10-01
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| Series: | Mires and Peat |
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| Online Access: | http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map24/map_24_25.pdf |
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| author | A.H.W. Koks G. van Dijk A.J.P. Smolders L.P.M. Lamers C. Fritz |
| author_facet | A.H.W. Koks G. van Dijk A.J.P. Smolders L.P.M. Lamers C. Fritz |
| author_sort | A.H.W. Koks |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sphagnum mosses are poikilohydric bryophytes, i.e. dependent on nearly-constant wet conditions. Exposure to mineral-enriched water has long been recognised as a threat to Sphagnum mosses and a driver of niche formation. Atrophy of Sphagnum is currently attributed to high pH in combination with high calcium concentration. Because the natural occurrence of high pH regularly auto-correlates with alkalinity and calcium concentration it remains unclear which of these factors is detrimental to Sphagnum. In a ten-week controlled laboratory experiment we measured the effects of high pH and bicarbonate concentration in combination with various cations (Ca2+, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Fe3+) on K+ leakage and survival in Sphagnum palustre L. Increased pH (7.2) combined with low (≤ 200 µmol L-1) bicarbonate concentration had no effect. In contrast, high bicarbonate levels (supplied or formed in solution) combined with pH values of 8.0 and higher produced signs of physiological stress (chlorosis and electrolyte leakage) within two weeks and were toxic in all treatments. Cations failed to modulate the adverse effects of high alkalinity; nor could additional potassium alleviate detrimental effects. This study shows that S. palustre is adversely affected by increased bicarbonate concentration and alkalinity, which both show a tight correlation with pH and often with calcium levels in water and bedrock. The management of groundwater and surface water sources for restoration of Sphagnum-dominated habitats and irrigation of Sphagnum farms should focus on lowering alkalinity levels (including pH), whereas cation concentrations may remain elevated. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:37:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b9ca9930f54240f98d33495e66dfdd56 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1819-754X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:37:46Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mires and Peat |
| spelling | doaj.art-b9ca9930f54240f98d33495e66dfdd562023-08-02T04:04:35ZengInternational Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland SocietyMires and Peat1819-754X2019-10-01242511410.19189/MaP.2018.OMB.392The effects of alkalinity and cations on the vitality of Sphagnum palustre L.A.H.W. Koks0G. van Dijk1A.J.P. Smolders2L.P.M. Lamers3C. Fritz4Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsInstitute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, and B-WARE Research Centre, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsInstitute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, and B-WARE Research Centre, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsInstitute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsInstitute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen and Centre for Energy and Environmental Studies, University of Groningen, Groningen, The NetherlandsSphagnum mosses are poikilohydric bryophytes, i.e. dependent on nearly-constant wet conditions. Exposure to mineral-enriched water has long been recognised as a threat to Sphagnum mosses and a driver of niche formation. Atrophy of Sphagnum is currently attributed to high pH in combination with high calcium concentration. Because the natural occurrence of high pH regularly auto-correlates with alkalinity and calcium concentration it remains unclear which of these factors is detrimental to Sphagnum. In a ten-week controlled laboratory experiment we measured the effects of high pH and bicarbonate concentration in combination with various cations (Ca2+, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Fe3+) on K+ leakage and survival in Sphagnum palustre L. Increased pH (7.2) combined with low (≤ 200 µmol L-1) bicarbonate concentration had no effect. In contrast, high bicarbonate levels (supplied or formed in solution) combined with pH values of 8.0 and higher produced signs of physiological stress (chlorosis and electrolyte leakage) within two weeks and were toxic in all treatments. Cations failed to modulate the adverse effects of high alkalinity; nor could additional potassium alleviate detrimental effects. This study shows that S. palustre is adversely affected by increased bicarbonate concentration and alkalinity, which both show a tight correlation with pH and often with calcium levels in water and bedrock. The management of groundwater and surface water sources for restoration of Sphagnum-dominated habitats and irrigation of Sphagnum farms should focus on lowering alkalinity levels (including pH), whereas cation concentrations may remain elevated.http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map24/map_24_25.pdfbicarbonate toxicitycalcium toxicitypaludiculturepeatlandwater management |
| spellingShingle | A.H.W. Koks G. van Dijk A.J.P. Smolders L.P.M. Lamers C. Fritz The effects of alkalinity and cations on the vitality of Sphagnum palustre L. Mires and Peat bicarbonate toxicity calcium toxicity paludiculture peatland water management |
| title | The effects of alkalinity and cations on the vitality of Sphagnum palustre L. |
| title_full | The effects of alkalinity and cations on the vitality of Sphagnum palustre L. |
| title_fullStr | The effects of alkalinity and cations on the vitality of Sphagnum palustre L. |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of alkalinity and cations on the vitality of Sphagnum palustre L. |
| title_short | The effects of alkalinity and cations on the vitality of Sphagnum palustre L. |
| title_sort | effects of alkalinity and cations on the vitality of sphagnum palustre l |
| topic | bicarbonate toxicity calcium toxicity paludiculture peatland water management |
| url | http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map24/map_24_25.pdf |
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