title: Differences in carbon and nutrient fractions among arctic growth forms.
abstract: In a survey of 28 plant species of 6 major growth forms from Alaskan tundra, we found no consistent difference among growth forms in the chemical nature of stored reserves except for lichens and mosses (which stored C primarily as polysaccharides) and shrubs (which tended to store C more as sugars than as polysaccharides). Forbs and graminoids showed particularly great diversity in the chemical nature of stored reserves. In contrast, C, N, and P chemistry of leaves was strikingly similar among all species and growth forms. Concentrations of stored reserves of C, N, and P were highest and showed greatest seasonal fluctuations in forbs and graminoids but were relatively constant in evergreen shrubs. From this information, we draw three general conclusions: (1) the photosynthetic function of leaves strongly constrains leaf chemistry so that similar chemical composition is found in all species and growth forms: (2) the chemical nature of storage reserves is highly variable, both within and among growth forms; (3) the concentration and seasonal pattern of storage reserves are closely linked to growth-form and reflect growth-form differences in woodiness, phenology, and relative dependence upon concurrent uptake vs. storage in support of growth.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, 99775-0180, Fairbanks, AK, USA.
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Chapin
authors.affiliation: Marine Biological Laboratory, The Ecosystems Center, 02543, Woods Hole, MA, USA.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Shaver
keywords: Carbohydrate; Growth form; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Tundra