Influence of Water Table and Atmospheric CO 2 Concentration on the Carbon Balance of Arctic Tundra

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Abstract
Carbon balance of intact arctic tundra microcosms (soil cores with vegetation) was sensitive to small changes in water table. The persistence of the effect of water table on CO2 flux in darkness and the large reduction of such an effect in sand-culture microcosms without peat-degrading microorganisms have led to the conclusion that rates of microbial degradation of peat are most likely responsible for the bulk of previously observed effects of water table on net ecosystem CO2 flux of arctic tundra microcosms. In an experiment using sand cultures, significant effects of changes in water table or increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration on the growth of plants of 2 dominant graminoid species (Dupontia fisheri and Carex aquatilis) could not be detected.