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Dryad

Catchment properties and the photosynthetic trait composition of freshwater plant communities

Cite this dataset

Iversen, Lars Lønsmann et al. (2019). Catchment properties and the photosynthetic trait composition of freshwater plant communities [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.18931zcrv

Abstract

Unlike in land plants, photosynthesis in many aquatic plants relies on bicarbonate in addition to carbon dioxide (CO2) to compensate for the low diffusivity and potential depletion of CO2 in water. Concentrations of bicarbonate and CO2 vary greatly with catchment geology. In this study, we investigate whether there is a link between these concentrations and the frequency of freshwater plants possessing the bicarbonate use trait. We show, globally, that the frequency of plant species with this trait increases with bicarbonate concentration. Regionally, however, the frequency of bicarbonate use is reduced at sites where the CO2 concentration is substantially above the air equilibrium, consistent with this trait being an adaptation to carbon limitation. Future anthropogenic changes of bicarbonate and CO2 concentrations may alter the species compositions of freshwater plant communities.

Usage notes

Georeferenced .tif file opens fine in all softwares that handles spatial data or R using the raster package.

Funding

Carlsberg Foundation

Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond