Abstract
Background: Although forest floor forms a large biomass pool in forested peatlands, little is known about its role in ecosystem carbon (C) dynamics. Aim: We aimed to quantify forest floor photosynthesis (P FF) and respiration (R FF) as a part of overall C dynamics in a drained peatland forest in southern Finland. Methods: We measured net forest floor CO2 exchange with closed chambers and reconstructed seasonal CO2 exchange in the prevailing plant communities. Results: The vegetation was a mosaic of plant communities that differed in CO2 exchange dynamics. The reconstructed growing season P FF was highest in the Sphagnum community and lowest in the feather moss communities. On the contrary, R FF was highest in the feather moss communities and lowest in the Sphagnum community. CO2 assimilated by the forest floor was 20–30% of the total CO2 assimilated by the forest. The forest floor was a net CO2 source to the atmosphere, because respiration from ground vegetation, tree roots and decomposition of soil organic matter exceeded the photosynthesis of ground vegetation. Conclusions: Tree stand dominates C fluxes in drained peatland forests. However, forest floor vegetation can have a noticeable role in the C cycle of peatlands drained for forestry. Similarly to natural mires, Sphagnum moss-dominated communities were the most efficient assimilators of C.
Published Version
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