LIGHT-TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCIES OF APPARENT PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND DARK RESPIRATION IN SPHAGNUM

The light-temperature dependencies of apparent (net) photosynthesis an d the dark respiration in peat mosses (Sphagnum balticum L., S. fuscum , S. magellanicum, and S. flexuosum L.) are studied using designed mul tifactorial experiments. Analysis of the developed models helped to es timate and reveal the values characterizing rates of potential photosy nthesis and the light and temperature optima where the rates of appare nt photosynthesis are at least 90% of its potential values. The temper ature dependencies of moss dark respiration are also described by thes e models. Temperatures from 2 - 10-degrees-C to 15 - 19-degrees-C are the most suitable for these moss species. It is concluded that carbon assimilation by the peat mosses could decrease if the climate heats up .