Hydrologic controls on water chemistry, vegetation and ecological patterns in two mires in the South-Eastern Alps (Italy)

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

GERDOL, R.

Dep. of Biology and Evolution, Univ., Ferrara, Italie

PONTIN, A.

Earth Sciences Dep., Univ., Ferrara, Italie

TOMASELLI, M.

Dep. of Evolutionary and Functional Biology, Univ., Parma, Italie

BOMBONATO, L.

Dep. of Evolutionary and Functional Biology, Univ., Parma, Italie

BRANCALEONI, L.

Dep. of Biology and Evolution, Univ., Ferrara, Italie

GUALMINI, M.

Dep. of Evolutionary and Functional Biology, Univ., Parma, Italie

PETRAGLIA, A.

Dep. of Evolutionary and Functional Biology, Univ., Parma, Italie

SIFFI, C.

Dep. of Biology and Evolution, Univ., Ferrara, Italie

GARGINI, A.

Earth Sciences Dep., Univ., Ferrara, Italie

Description :
The AA. examined how hydrology influenced water chemistry, vegetation, nutrient status, aboveground net primary production (ANPP) and litter decomposition rates in 2 mires on the South-Eastern Alps of Italy. They chose 2 pristine peatlands strongly differing from each other as regards both water chemistry and vegetation cover, with one of the 2 sites being prevalently covered by bog-like vegetation and the other by fen-like vegetation. Contrary to their expectations, ANPP did not differ significantly between the 2 mire sites while litter decomposition rates were significantly lower in the fen-dominated mire, presumably because of phosphorus (P) limitation of decomposers. This suggests that the development of ombrogenous mires in this region need not be due to increased accumulation of peat during succession from mineralwater-fed to rainwater-fed conditions.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2011, vol. 86, n°. 2, p. 86-97, nombre de pages : 12, Références bibliographiques : 51 ref.

Date :
2011

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena

Langue :
Anglais