The effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on a subarctic heath ecosystem

To investigate the effects of increased UV-B radiation on a natural subarctic ecosystem a field irradiation experiment was established at Abisko, northern Sweden. The vegetation in the plots consists of a dwarf shrub layer with mosses and lichens beneath. Many response variables of the vegetation an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ambio 1995-03, Vol.24 (2), p.106-111
Main Authors: Johanson, U. (Lund Univ. (Sweden). Vaextfysiologiska Inst.), Gehrke, C, Bjoern, L.O, Callaghan, T.V, Sonesson, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
BIODEGRADACION
BIODEGRADATION
BOTANICAL COMPOSITION
CAMBIO CLIMATICO
Chemical composition
Chemical decomposition
CLIMATIC CHANGE
COMPOSICION BOTANICA
COMPOSITION BOTANIQUE
CRECIMIENTO
CROISSANCE
ECOLOGIA VEGETAL
ECOSISTEMA
ECOSYSTEME
ECOSYSTEMS
EXPERIMENTACION EN CAMPO
EXPERIMENTATION AU CHAMP
FIELD EXPERIMENTATION
GROWTH
LANDE
Leaves
Light
MOORS
Mosses
OZONE
Ozone depletion
Ozone layer
OZONO
PARAMOS
PHYTOECOLOGIE
PLANT ECOLOGY
Plants
RADIACION ULTRAVIOLETA
RAYONNEMENT ULTRAVIOLET
SUECIA
SUEDE
SWEDEN
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VARIATION DU CLIMAT
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Summary:To investigate the effects of increased UV-B radiation on a natural subarctic ecosystem a field irradiation experiment was established at Abisko, northern Sweden. The vegetation in the plots consists of a dwarf shrub layer with mosses and lichens beneath. Many response variables of the vegetation and soil are measured in these plots, e.g. photosynthesis, growth, phenology, changes in species composition and decomposition. This paper describes the methods used and some initial results. Decomposition was impaired by enhanced UV-B radiation. UV-B directly affected decomposition processes and also affected them indirectly by altering the tissue chemistry of leaves. The annual growth of the dwarf shrubs was lower under enhanced UV-B. This was more pronounced in evergreen than in deciduous species. Leaf thickness of the dwarf shrubs was changed by UV-B. The leaves of the evergreen Vaccinium vitis-idaea grew thicker, while those of the two deciduous species V. myrtillus and V. uliginosum grew thinner. In the moss Hylocomium splendens, the phenological development was accelerated under enhanced UV-B radiation. Its growth (number of primary branches, length and dry weight) also increased.
ISSN:0044-7447
1654-7209