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Differences in carbon and nutrient fractions among arctic growth forms

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Summary

In a survey of 28 plant species of 6 major growth forms from Alaskan tundra, we found no consistent difference among growth forms in the chemical nature of stored reserves except for lichens and mosses (which stored C primarily as polysaccharides) and shrubs (which tended to store C more as sugars than as polysaccharides). Forbs and graminoids showed particularly great diversity in the chemical nature of stored reserves. In contrast, C, N, and P chemistry of leaves was strikingly similar among all species and growth forms. Concentrations of stored reserves of C, N, and P were highest and showed greatest seasonal fluctuations in forbs and graminoids but were relatively constant in evergreen shrubs. From this information, we draw three general conclusions: (1) the photosynthetic function of leaves strongly constrains leaf chemistry so that similar chemical composition is found in all species and growth forms: (2) the chemical nature of storage reserves is highly variable, both within and among growth forms; (3) the concentration and seasonal pattern of storage reserves are closely linked to growth-form and reflect growth-form differences in woodiness, phenology, and relative dependence upon concurrent uptake vs. storage in support of growth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, 99775-0180, Fairbanks, AK, USA

    F. S. Chapin III

  2. Marine Biological Laboratory, The Ecosystems Center, 02543, Woods Hole, MA, USA

    G. R. Shaver

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  1. F. S. Chapin III
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  2. G. R. Shaver
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Chapin, F.S., Shaver, G.R. Differences in carbon and nutrient fractions among arctic growth forms. Oecologia 77, 506–514 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377266

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