Sphagnum annual growth and primary production measurements (Mukhrino field station, West Siberia) (2018-2023)

Study Extent

57 plots were located alonside the wooden boardwalk of the station research polygon. Each plot contained minimum 10 replicate measurements of a single species. Each species was measured in several plots (2-6) to cover spacial heterogenity. Totally 8 species of Sphagnum were studied for annual growth/primary production. The plots were located in natural as well as in altered temperature conditions (30 plots with S. balticum were included in climate manipulation experiment, Open Top Chambers). The installation of the markings was carried out in October, and the measurements were made a year after (no seasonal dynamics was measured between these dates). The database presents results of three years of observations.

Sampling

Crancked wire (its modified wire-brush) method was used to measure annual growth of up-growing species (S. fuscum, S.magellanicum, S.angustifolium, S.capillifolium, S.papillosum). Individual wire ringlets approach was used the measure side-growing species (S.balticum, S.majus, S.jensenii). The markings were installed in October to start measuremets early from the spring in the next year. The measurements were made a year after (in September-October).

Quality Control

Each species of Sphagnum was measured in several plots to cover spacial heterogenity. Each plot contained min 10 replicate markings to cover variability as well as occasional lost of the markings. The measurements were made using a ruler, with approximate accurasy of the method being 0.5 cm.

Method steps

1. Measurements of up-growing species were made using modified crancked wire method (brush-wire). The wire covered by plastic sheath was used to prevent corrosion, as well as other inert and stabile materials were used to make the brush and the flags. The wire-brush was inserted between Sphagnum capitulas using a cocktail tube so that exactly 10 cm of wire was exposed above the capitulas. The detailes of brush-wires preparation showed in pictures and videos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mukhrinostation/albums/72157667768367903 The measurements of annual growth were made by a ruler of the exposed part of the wire, with subsequent re-calculation as follows: Sphagnum annual growth = 10 cm - measurement of wire above the capitulas, cm.
2. Measurements of side-growing species were made using the individual wire rings. The inert wire was used to prevent corrosion and Sphagnum dying off. By 10 individual rings were attached to a wooden pole with a flag to trace the markings after the vegetation season will pass. Each ring was attached exactly under the capitula of each Sphagnum individual. The details of rings prepartaion showed in pictures and videos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mukhrinostation/albums/72157667768367903 The measurements of annual growth were made by a ruler of the incremental growth between a ring and a Sphagnum capitula.
3. To calculate total spatial primary production, the Sphagnum shoot density was measured on each plot after growth increment was measured. A frame 1 dm^2 was used to extract a sample of exact area, which was packed in a zip bag, labeled and transferred to the laboratory. The number of parameters in each sample was counted in the laboratory and filled in the database: 1) number of capitulas per 1 dm^2, 2) weight of capitulas per 1 dm^2, 3) weight of sphagnum shoots 3cm length per 1 dm^2.
4. The database contains 16 fields in a single table: occurrenceID - a single measurement individual number eventID - plot number samplingProtocol - crancked wire vs. individual wire ringlet habitat - vegetation fieldNotes - water level below the surface, cm (measured once for each plot in 2018) decimalLatitude - coordinate of the plot decimalLongitude - coordinate of the plot Datum - geodetic datum of the coordinate coordinateUncertaintyInMeters - coordinate uncertainty, m scientificName - Sphagnum species organismQuantity - measured numbers organismQuantityType - growth increment; capitulas weight; sphagnum shoots weight; number of capitulas eventDate - date range of growth period Year - year of growth period kingdom - Plantae eventRemarks - any field notes on measurements biases.

1. Sphagnum magellanicum
   rank: species
2. Sphagnum fuscum
   rank: species
3. Sphagnum angustifolium
   rank: species
4. Sphagnum jensenii
   rank: species
5. Sphagnum papillosum
   rank: species
6. Sphagnum majus
   rank: species
7. Sphagnum capillifolium
   rank: species
8. Sphagnum baltium
   rank: species

Mukhrino Field Station located in the central part of West Siberia, middle taiga biogeographic zone, 30 km to the south-west from Khanty-Mansiysk, on the left Irtysh River bank near the peatland Mukhrino. See more at the station' web site: https://mukhrinostation.com/environs/