Root traits are multidimensional: specific root length is independent from root tissue density and the plant economic spectrum

Journal of Ecology - Tập 104 Số 5 - Trang 1299-1310 - 2016
Kris R. Kramer‐Walter1, Peter J. Bellingham2, Timothy R. Millar2, Rob D. Smissen2, Sarah J. Richardson2, Daniel C. Laughlin1
1Environmental Research Institute and School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
2Landcare Research, P.O. Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand

Tóm tắt

Summary

Root, stem and leaf traits are thought to be functionally coordinated to maximize the efficiency of acquiring and using limited resources. However, evidence is mixed for consistent whole‐plant trait coordination among woody plants, and we lack a clear understanding of the adaptive value of root traits along soil resource gradients. If fine roots are the below‐ground analogue to leaves, then low specific root length (SRL) and high tissue density should be common on infertile soil. Here, we test the prediction that root, stem and leaf traits and relative growth rate respond in unison with soil fertility gradients.

We measured fine root, stem and leaf traits and relative growth rate on individual seedlings of 66 tree species grown in controlled conditions. Our objectives were (i) to determine whether multiple root traits align with growth rate, leaf and stem traits and with each other and (ii) to quantify the relationships between community‐weighted mean root traits and two strong soil fertility gradients that differed in spatial extent and community composition.

At the species level, fast growth rates were associated with low root and stem tissue density and high specific leaf area. SRL and root diameter were not clearly related to growth rate and loaded on a separate principal component from the plant economic spectrum.

At the community level, growth rate was positively related to soil fertility, and root tissue density (RTD) and branching were negatively related to soil fertility. SRL was negatively related and root diameter was positively related to soil fertility on the large‐scale gradient that included ectomycorrhizal angiosperms.

Synthesis. Root, stem and leaf tissue traits of tree seedlings are coordinated and influence fitness along soil fertility gradients. RTD responds in unison with above‐ground traits to soil fertility gradients; however, root traits are multidimensional because SRL is orthogonal to the plant economic spectrum. In contrast to leaves, trees are not constrained in the way they construct fine roots: plants can construct high or low SRL roots of any tissue density. High RTD is the most consistent below‐ground trait that reflects adaptation to infertile soil.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x

10.1111/j.1365-2745.2007.01286.x

10.1016/j.tree.2014.10.006

10.1038/2211267b0

10.1080/0028825X.1971.10429141

Baylis G.T.S., 1975, Endomycorrhizas: Proceedings of a Symposium, 373

Baylis G.T.S., 1980, Mycorrhizas and the spread of beech, New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 3, 151

Blakemore L.C., 1987, Methods for Chemical Analysis of Soils New Zealand Soil

10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01285.x

10.1111/geb.12048

10.1104/pp.114.249037

10.1111/j.0269-8463.2004.00835.x

10.1080/0028825X.1976.10428891

10.1007/s00442-002-1155-6

10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.930210.x

10.1890/04-1075

10.1038/nmeth.2109

Dickie I.A., 2012, Quantification of mycorrhizal limitation in beech spread, New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 36, 210

10.5479/si.0081024X.95.175

10.1111/j.1469-8137.1991.tb00565.x

10.1046/j.1469-8137.2000.00686.x

10.1086/284325

10.1093/jpe/rts034

10.1111/nph.13352

10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01615.x

10.1002/ece3.520

10.1046/j.0269-8463.2001.00563.x

10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01829.x

10.1002/9780470995563

10.1111/j.1365-2311.2004.00572.x

10.1080/10635150390235520

10.1080/0028825X.1975.10430337

10.1071/FP05043

10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01821.x

10.1111/1365-2745.12366

Johnson P.N.(1973)Mycorrhizas of coniferous‐broadleaved forest. PhD University of Otago Otago New Zealand.

10.1093/molbev/mst010

10.1093/aob/mcn044

10.1111/nph.12842

10.1111/nph.13203

10.1111/1365-2745.12187

10.1016/j.tree.2015.06.003

10.1111/j.1365-2435.2009.01672.x

10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01885.x

10.1007/s10021-015-9899-0

10.1111/1365-2745.12368

10.1111/geb.12296

10.1111/j.1365-2745.2008.01466.x

10.1111/nph.13363

McNabb R.F.R.(1958)The mycorrhizas of some New Zealand plants. MSc thesis University of Otago Otago New Zealand.

10.1071/BT9610057

Metson A.J., 1979, Methods for the determination of soil organic carbon: a review, and application to New Zealand soils, New Zealand Journal of Science, 22, 205

10.3170/2007-8-18340

10.1111/j.1744-7429.2004.tb00292.x

10.1111/j.1466-8238.2008.00441.x

10.1038/44766

10.1093/bioinformatics/btg412

10.1016/j.foreco.2014.06.037

10.1111/1365-2745.12000

10.1111/1365-2745.12211

10.1046/j.1365-2435.1998.00208.x

10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00804.x

10.1111/j.2041-210X.2011.00169.x

10.1890/04-0524

10.1111/jvs.12341

10.1093/sysbio/sys029

10.1046/j.1469-8137.2002.00504.x

10.2307/2390506

10.1007/BF00010478

10.1111/1365-2745.12489

10.1111/j.1469-8137.1980.tb04555.x

10.1038/nature05134

10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01428.x

10.1111/1365-2435.12384

10.1046/j.1469-8137.2000.00775.x

10.1111/j.2041-210X.2011.00153.x

10.1111/jvs.12168

10.1890/0012-9615(2006)076[0381:COSALS]2.0.CO;2

10.1046/j.1365-2745.1999.00330.x

10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01349.x

Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

Journal of Ecology

Tập 104 Số 5

1299-1310

Thông tin tác giả