Functional diversity and trait composition of vascular plant and <i>Sphagnum</i> moss communities during peatland succession across land uplift regions

Most of the carbon accumulated into peatlands is derived from Sphagnum mosses. During peatland development, relative share vascular plants and mosses in plant community changes, which impacts ecosystem functions. Little known on successional development functional traits or diversity peatlands, although this could be a key for understanding mechanisms behind resistance to climate change. Here we aim assess how functionality successive communities change along autogenic associated environmental gradients, namely peat thickness pH, determine whether trait trade-offs during succession are analogous between moss communities. We collected data gradients post-glacial rebound areas coastal Finland, Sweden Russia, altogether 47 peatlands. This allowed us analyse changes community-weighted mean values (diversity traits) development. Our results show comparative acquisitive species conservative both However, had higher than was seen larger proportion intraspecific variation turnover traits, while proportions were opposite plants. Similarly, increased occurred measured showed phylogenetic signal. More so, common old stages, Ericacae Sphagna subgroup Acutifolia detected as most similar their neighbours. Synthesis. vegetation leads dominance accustomed high stress. At same time, ecological engineering variability, together indicate towards perturbations.