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The relative contribution of bryophytes to plant diversity, primary productivity, and ecosystem functioning increases towards colder climates. Bryophytes respond to environmental changes at the species level, but because bryophyte species are relatively difficult to identify, they are often lumped into one functional group. Consequently, bryophyte function remains poorly resolved. Here, we explore how higher resolution of bryophyte functional diversity can be encouraged and implemented in tundra ecological studies. We briefly review previous bryophyte functional classifications and the roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems and their susceptibility to environmental change. Based on shoot morphology and colony organization, we then propose twelve easily distinguishable bryophyte functional groups. To illustrate how bryophyte functional groups can help elucidate variation in bryophyte effects and responses, we compiled existing data on water holding capacity, a key bryophyte trait. Although plant functional groups can mask potentially high interspecific and intraspecific variability, we found better separation of bryophyte functional group means compared with previous grouping systems regarding water holding capacity. This suggests that our bryophyte functional groups truly represent variation in the functional roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems. Lastly, we provide recommendations to improve the monitoring of bryophyte community changes in tundra study sites.

The relative contribution of bryophytes to plant diversity, primary productivity, and ecosystem functioning increases towards colder climates. Bryophytes respond to environmental changes at the species level, but because bryophyte species are relatively difficult to identify, they are often lumped into one functional group. Consequently, bryophyte function remains poorly resolved. Here, we explore how higher resolution of bryophyte functional diversity can be encouraged and implemented in tundra ecological studies. We briefly review previous bryophyte functional classifications and the roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems and their susceptibility to environmental change. Based on shoot morphology and colony organization, we then propose twelve easily distinguishable bryophyte functional groups. To illustrate how bryophyte functional groups can help elucidate variation in bryophyte effects and responses, we compiled existing data on water holding capacity, a key bryophyte trait. Although plant functional groups can mask potentially high interspecific and intraspecific variability, we found better separation of bryophyte functional group means compared with previous grouping systems regarding water holding capacity. This suggests that our bryophyte functional groups truly represent variation in the functional roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems. Lastly, we provide recommendations to improve the monitoring of bryophyte community changes in tundra study sites.

The relative contribution of bryophytes to plant diversity, primary productivity, and ecosystem functioning increases towards colder climates. Bryophytes respond to environmental changes at the species level, but because bryophyte species are relatively difficult to identify, they are often lumped into one functional group. Consequently, bryophyte function remains poorly resolved. Here, we explore how higher resolution of bryophyte functional diversity can be encouraged and implemented in tundra ecological studies. We briefly review previous bryophyte functional classifications and the roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems and their susceptibility to environmental change. Based on shoot morphology and colony organization, we then propose twelve easily distinguishable bryophyte functional groups. To illustrate how bryophyte functional groups can help elucidate variation in bryophyte effects and responses, we compiled existing data on water holding capacity, a key bryophyte trait. Although plant functional groups can mask potentially high interspecific and intraspecific variability, we found better separation of bryophyte functional group means compared with previous grouping systems regarding water holding capacity. This suggests that our bryophyte functional groups truly represent variation in the functional roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems. Lastly, we provide recommendations to improve the monitoring of bryophyte community changes in tundra study sites.

The relative contribution of bryophytes to plant diversity, primary productivity, and ecosystem functioning increases towards colder climates. Bryophytes respond to environmental changes at the species level, but because bryophyte species are relatively difficult to identify, they are often lumped into one functional group. Consequently, bryophyte function remains poorly resolved. Here, we explore how higher resolution of bryophyte functional diversity can be encouraged and implemented in tundra ecological studies. We briefly review previous bryophyte functional classifications and the roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems and their susceptibility to environmental change. Based on shoot morphology and colony organization, we then propose twelve easily distinguishable bryophyte functional groups. To illustrate how bryophyte functional groups can help elucidate variation in bryophyte effects and responses, we compiled existing data on water holding capacity, a key bryophyte trait. Although plant functional groups can mask potentially high interspecific and intraspecific variability, we found better separation of bryophyte functional group means compared with previous grouping systems regarding water holding capacity. This suggests that our bryophyte functional groups truly represent variation in the functional roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems. Lastly, we provide recommendations to improve the monitoring of bryophyte community changes in tundra study sites. © 2022 Canadian Science Publishing, La contribution relative des bryophytes à la diversité végétale, à la productivité primaire et au fonctionnement des écosystèmes s’accroît vers les climats plus froids. Les bryophytes répondent aux changements environnementaux au niveau de l’espèce, mais puisque les espèces de bryophytes sont relativement difficiles à identifier, elles sont souvent regroupées en un seul groupe fonctionnel. Par conséquent, la fonction des bryophytes reste mal résolue. Les auteurs explorent ici comment une meilleure résolution de la diversité fonctionnelle des bryophytes peut être encouragée et mise en œuvre dans les études écologiques de la toundra. Ils passent brièvement en revue les classifications fonctionnelles précédentes des bryophytes et les rôles des bryophytes dans les écosystèmes de la toundra et leur sensibilité aux changements environnementaux. Sur la base de la morphologie des pousses et de l’organisation des colonies, ils proposent ensuite douze groupes fonctionnels de bryophytes faciles à distinguer. Pour illustrer comment les groupes fonctionnels de bryophytes peuvent aider à élucider la variation des effets et des réponses des bryophytes, ils ont compilé les données existantes sur la capacité de rétention d’eau, une caractéristique clé des bryophytes. Bien que les groupes fonctionnels de végétaux puissent masquer une variabilité interspécifique et intraspécifique potentiellement élevée, ils ont constaté une meilleure séparation des moyennes des groupes fonctionnels de bryophytes par rapport aux systèmes de regroupement précédents concernant la capacité de rétention d’eau. Cela suggère que les groupes fonctionnels de bryophytes proposés par les auteurs représentent réellement la variation des rôles fonctionnels des bryophytes dans les écosystèmes de la toundra. Enfin, ils formulent des recommandations pour améliorer la surveillance des changements de la communauté bryophyte dans les sites d’étude de la toundra. [Traduit par la Rédaction]

The relative contribution of bryophytes to plant diversity, primary productivity, and ecosystem functioning increases towards colder climates. Bryophytes respond to environmental changes at the species level, but because bryophyte species are relatively difficult to identify, they are often lumped into one functional group. Consequently, bryophyte function remains poorly resolved. Here, we explore how higher resolution of bryophyte functional diversity can be encouraged and implemented in tundra ecological studies. We briefly review previous bryophyte functional classifications and the roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems and their susceptibility to environmental change. Based on shoot morphology and colony organization, we then propose twelve easily distinguishable bryophyte functional groups. To illustrate how bryophyte functional groups can help elucidate variation in bryophyte effects and responses, we compiled existing data on water holding capacity, a key bryophyte trait. Although plant functional groups can mask potentially high interspecific and intraspecific variability, we found better separation of bryophyte functional group means compared with previous grouping systems regarding water holding capacity. This suggests that our bryophyte functional groups truly represent variation in the functional roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems. Lastly, we provide recommendations to improve the monitoring of bryophyte community changes in tundra study sites.

The relative contribution of bryophytes to plant diversity, primary productivity, and ecosystem functioning increases towards colder climates. Bryophytes respond to environmental changes at the species level, but because bryophyte species are relatively difficult to identify, they are often lumped into one functional group. Consequently, bryophyte function remains poorly resolved. Here, we explore how higher resolution of bryophyte functional diversity can be encouraged and implemented in tundra ecological studies. We briefly review previous bryophyte functional classifications and the roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems and their susceptibility to environmental change. Based on shoot morphology and colony organization, we then propose twelve easily distinguishable bryophyte functional groups. To illustrate how bryophyte functional groups can help elucidate variation in bryophyte effects and responses, we compiled existing data on water holding capacity, a key bryophyte trait. Although plant functional groups can mask potentially high interspecific and intraspecific variability, we found better separation of bryophyte functional group means compared with previous grouping systems regarding water holding capacity. This suggests that our bryophyte functional groups truly represent variation in the functional roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems. Lastly, we provide recommendations to improve the monitoring of bryophyte community changes in tundra study sites.

The relative contribution of bryophytes to plant diversity, primary productivity, and ecosystem functioning increases towards colder climates. Bryophytes respond to environmental changes at the species level, but because bryophyte species are relatively difficult to identify, they are often lumped into one functional group. Consequently, bryophyte function remains poorly resolved. Here, we explore how higher resolution of bryophyte functional diversity can be encouraged and implemented in tundra ecological studies. We briefly review previous bryophyte functional classifications and the roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems and their susceptibility to environmental change. Based on shoot morphology and colony organization, we then propose twelve easily distinguishable bryophyte functional groups. To illustrate how bryophyte functional groups can help elucidate variation in bryophyte effects and responses, we compiled existing data on water holding capacity, a key bryophyte trait. Although plant functional groups can mask potentially high interspecific and intraspecific variability, we found better separation of bryophyte functional group means compared with previous grouping systems regarding water holding capacity. This suggests that our bryophyte functional groups truly represent variation in the functional roles of bryophytes in tundra ecosystems. Lastly, we provide recommendations to improve the monitoring of bryophyte community changes in tundra study sites. © 2022 Canadian Science Publishing, La contribution relative des bryophytes à la diversité végétale, à la productivité primaire et au fonctionnement des écosystèmes s’accroît vers les climats plus froids. Les bryophytes répondent aux changements environnementaux au niveau de l’espèce, mais puisque les espèces de bryophytes sont relativement difficiles à identifier, elles sont souvent regroupées en un seul groupe fonctionnel. Par conséquent, la fonction des bryophytes reste mal résolue. Les auteurs explorent ici comment une meilleure résolution de la diversité fonctionnelle des bryophytes peut être encouragée et mise en œuvre dans les études écologiques de la toundra. Ils passent brièvement en revue les classifications fonctionnelles précédentes des bryophytes et les rôles des bryophytes dans les écosystèmes de la toundra et leur sensibilité aux changements environnementaux. Sur la base de la morphologie des pousses et de l’organisation des colonies, ils proposent ensuite douze groupes fonctionnels de bryophytes faciles à distinguer. Pour illustrer comment les groupes fonctionnels de bryophytes peuvent aider à élucider la variation des effets et des réponses des bryophytes, ils ont compilé les données existantes sur la capacité de rétention d’eau, une caractéristique clé des bryophytes. Bien que les groupes fonctionnels de végétaux puissent masquer une variabilité interspécifique et intraspécifique potentiellement élevée, ils ont constaté une meilleure séparation des moyennes des groupes fonctionnels de bryophytes par rapport aux systèmes de regroupement précédents concernant la capacité de rétention d’eau. Cela suggère que les groupes fonctionnels de bryophytes proposés par les auteurs représentent réellement la variation des rôles fonctionnels des bryophytes dans les écosystèmes de la toundra. Enfin, ils formulent des recommandations pour améliorer la surveillance des changements de la communauté bryophyte dans les sites d’étude de la toundra. [Traduit par la Rédaction], Funding: This study was supported by a grant to SL from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie, Grant No. 797446 and by the Independent Research Fund Denmark, Grant no. 0135-00140B. Funding from the Academy of Finland (grant 322266), National Science Foundation (1504224, 1836839, PLR-1504381 and PLR-1836898), Independent Research Fund Denmark (9040-00314B), Moscow State University, (project No 121032500089-1), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, ArcticNet, Polar Continental Shelf Program, Northern Science Training Program, Polar Knowledge Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Tomsk State University competitiveness improvement program and the Russian Science Foundation (grant No 20-67-46018) are gratefully acknowledged.