Oecologia

, Volume 47, Issue 2, pp 196–199 | Cite as

Seasonal root growth in the arctic tussock tundra

  • Jochen Kummerow
  • Michael Russell
Article
Received:

Summary

The quantity of growing root tips per unit of soil volume was analyzed in a central Alaskan tussock tundra site. By June 10, the aboveground fraction of the vegetation had initiated the flush of spring growth and flowering while less than 5 active root tips cm-3 were found. By June 25 this value had increased to 30 root tips cm-3. Similar values in July were followed by a complete cessation of root growth after the first week of August. By then, leaf senescence had also become visible. In the spring, low root temperatures were responsible for the time lag between shoot growth initiation and the beginning of root growth. In early August, root growth stopped in spite of adequate soil temperatures and accumulated carbohydrate for root growth. It is proposed that use of reserve carbohydrate for root growth in August would compromise the flush of spring growth in the following year.

Keywords

Root Growth Leaf Senescence Active Root Soil Volume Complete Cessation 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1980

Authors and Affiliations

  • Jochen Kummerow
    • 1
    • 2
  • Michael Russell
    • 1
    • 2
  1. 1.Botany DepartmentSan Diego State UniversitySan DiegoUSA
  2. 2.Systems Ecology Research GroupSan Diego State UniversitySan DiegoUSA

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