Catchment properties and the photosynthetic trait composition of freshwater plant communities

Iversen, Lars Lønsmann, Arizona State University, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5640-458X

Winkel, A., University of Copenhagen, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1015-4981

Baastrup-Spohr, L., University of Copenhagen

Hinke, A. B., University of Copenhagen, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7468-3797

Alahuhta, J., University of Oulu, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5514-9361

Baattrup-Pedersen, A., Aarhus University

Birk, S., University of Duisburg-Essen, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2597-8692

Brodersen, P., University of Copenhagen, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1083-1150

Chambers, P. A., Environment Canada

Ecke, F., Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Feldmann, T., Estonian University of Life Sciences

Gebler, D., University of Life Sciences in Poznań, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6549-9418

Heino, J., Finnish Environment Institute

Jespersen, T. S., University of Copenhagen

Moe, S. J., Norwegian Institute for Water Research, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3681-3551

Riis, T., Aarhus University, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2501-4444

Sass, L., University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3614-4829

Vestergaard, O., United Nations Environment Programme

Maberly, S. C., Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3541-5903

Sand-Jensen, K., University of Copenhagen, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2534-4638

Pedersen, O., University of Copenhagen

liversenuc@gmail.com

Published Dec 04, 2019 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.18931zcrv

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

Carlsbergfondet

Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond