Effects of Bryophytes and Lichens on Nutrient Cycling in Circumpolar Forest Ecosystems

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H05238
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 海外学術
• Research Field: Biodiversity/Systematics
• Research Institution: Forest Research and Management Organization
• Principal Investigator: Morishita Tomoaki 国立研究開発法人森林研究・整備機構, 森林総合研究所, 主任研究員 等 (90391185)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 周極域 / コケ / 地衣 / 炭素循環 / 温室効果ガス / モノテルペン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Same species of moss and lichen were found across boreal forest ecosystems. However, the ratio of coverage and the production rate were different among the sites and regions. In a black spruce forest in interior Alaska, where the ratio of coverage and production rate of moss and lichen were also different along the slope, and the greenhouse gas flux and monoterpene concentration were different along the slope. The moss and lichens may be source of the monoterpenes, and they were suggested to affect carbon and nitrogen dynamics in the ecosystems.

Free Research Field

土壌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

北欧、シベリア、北米の亜寒帯林における調査から、林床におけるコケの成長量は、炭素蓄積そのものに大きく貢献していること、コケ・地衣類が生成源と考えられるモノテルペンは、炭素窒素循環過程の制御要因であることが示唆され、周極域亜寒帯林では、林床をびっしり多い、厚く堆積するコケ・地衣類が、炭素および窒素循環に量的にも質的にも大きな影響をおよぼしていることが明らかになった。