Title: Intraspecific trait variability in four geographically widespread peatland plant species in Canada
Citation: Data will be made available on request
Study Site: Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta
Purpose: Plant traits directly influence ecosystem carbon exchange through photosynthesis and respiration, and indirectly control nutrient cycling through structural and chemical characteristics. Efforts to understand the role of plant traits in peatland ecosystem functioning under natural and disturbed conditions have primarily focused on community and species means. However, within-species (‘intraspecific’) variability may contribute to plant and ecosystem responses to environmental change.
Abstract: We measured vascular plant traits that influence carbon and nutrient cycling: leaf size (LS), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf thickness (Lth), and plant height. For non-vascular Sphagnum moss species, we focused on traits associated with the capacity to carry water and photosynthesize: fascicle density (FD), capitulum mass (Mcap), and length-specific stem mass (Mstem).
Supplemental Information Summary: Data will be made available on request
Research:
Further Info: Rachel A. Kendall, Ellie M. Goud, Scott J. Davidson, Nicole Balliston, Claire Estey, Tasha-Leigh Gauthier, Kimberly Kleinke, Andrew Rutland, Maria Strack, Intraspecific trait variability in four geographically widespread peatland plant species in Canada,
Flora, Volume 330, 2025, 152797, ISSN 0367-2530, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flora.2025.152797
Status: Complete
Keywords:
vegetation,
Geographical coordinates: North: 59.99, South: 41.909 East: -57.19 West: -120.01
Bounding Temporal Extent: Start Date: 2019-08-01, End
Date: 2019-08-31
