Ecosystem CO2 flux rates in relation to vegetation type and age of Leymus arenarius dunes on Surtsey

A study on the volcanic island of Surtsey reveals that belowground processes, such as soil respiration and root stocks, have significantly increased over 28 years despite stable aboveground vegetation cover. Leymus arenarius, a dominant plant species, exerts a stronger influence on CO₂ fluxes than its surface cover suggests due to higher photosynthesis rates compared to Honckenya peploides. The research highlights the importance of belowground development in primary succession and demonstrates how water stress can temporarily limit these processes in coastal ecosystems.

Sigurdsson, B. D., & Stefánsdóttir, G. (2015). Ecosystem CO2 flux rates in relation to vegetation type and age of Leymus arenarius dunes on Surtsey. Surtsey Research, 13, 9–15. https://doi.org/10.33112/surtsey.13.1