Weather Factors in Different Growing Periods Determine Inter-Annual Change in Growth of Four Sphagnum Species: Evidence from an Eight-Year Study

The growth of peat mosses is crucial for carbon uptake and storage in high latitude peatlands. Nevertheless, little known on how variation specific weather conditions affect Sphagnum functional traits productivity. Using data from an eight-year study a mire complex the southern taiga Western Siberia, we investigated suite within-season relates to growth. We collected data, (length increment, increment biomass, capitulum numerical density biomass) net primary productivity four species growing raised bogs poor fens. Overall, most important factors were those related moisture conditions. Growing season averages variables (e.g., precipitation mean temperature) often as good predictors early or late seasonal averages, but not necessarily same variables. sensitive fluctuation length (for S. magellanicum agg., angustifolium, fallax) fuscum). Primary fuscum agg. highest under warm wet with being less weather; angustifolium increased cool conditions; fallax was dry weather. Diversity interspecific response fluctuations may result peatland resistance towards environmental variability, thereby maintaining stable time across complex.