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Anna Ekberg. Photo.

Anna Ekberg

Administrative manager

Anna Ekberg. Photo.

Herbivore-shrub interactions influence ecosystem respiration and biogenic volatile organic compound composition in the subarctic

Author

  • Cole G. Brachmann
  • Tage Vowles
  • Riikka Rinnan
  • Mats P. Björkman
  • Anna Ekberg
  • Robert G. Björk

Summary, in English

Arctic ecosystems are warming nearly 4 times faster than the global average, which is resulting in plant community shifts and subsequent changes in biogeochemical processes such as gaseous fluxes. Additionally, herbivores shape plant communities and thereby may alter the magnitude and composition of ecosystem respiration and biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions. Here we determine the effect of large mammalian herbivores on ecosystem respiration and BVOC emissions in two southern and two northern sites in Swedish Scandes, encompassing mountain birch (LOMB) and shrub heath (LORI) communities in the south and low-herb meadow (RIGA) and shrub heath (RIRI) communities in the north. Herbivory significantly altered BVOC composition between sites and decreased ecosystem respiration at RIGA. The difference in graminoid cover was found to have a large effect on ecosystem respiration between sites as RIGA, with the highest cover, had 35 % higher emissions than the next highest-emitting site (LOMB). Additionally, LOMB had the highest emissions of terpenes, with the northern sites having significantly lower emissions. Differences between sites were primarily due to differences in exclosure effects and soil temperature and the prevalence of different shrub growth forms. Our results suggest that herbivory has a significant effect on trace gas fluxes in a productive meadow community and that differences between communities may be driven by differences in shrub composition.

Department/s

  • Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC)

Publishing year

2023-10-06

Language

English

Pages

4069-4086

Publication/Series

Biogeosciences

Volume

20

Issue

19

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Copernicus GmbH

Topic

  • Ecology
  • Physical Geography

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1726-4170