1
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Weigelt A, Mommer L, Andraczek K, Iversen CM, Bergmann J, Bruelheide H, Freschet GT, Guerrero-Ramírez NR, Kattge J, Kuyper TW, Laughlin DC, Meier IC, van der Plas F, Poorter H, Roumet C, van Ruijven J, Sabatini FM, Semchenko M, Sweeney CJ, Valverde-Barrantes OJ, York LM, McCormack ML. The importance of trait selection in ecology. Nature 2023; 618:E29-E30. [PMID: 37380696 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06148-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Weigelt
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Liesje Mommer
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Karl Andraczek
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Colleen M Iversen
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Climate Change Science Institute and Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Joana Bergmann
- Sustainable Grassland Systems, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Paulinenaue, Germany
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Grégoire T Freschet
- Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station (SETE), National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Moulis, France
| | - Nathaly R Guerrero-Ramírez
- Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jens Kattge
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Functional Biogeography, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - Thom W Kuyper
- Soil Biology Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Ina C Meier
- Functional Forest Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, Barsbüttel-Willinghusen, Germany
| | - Fons van der Plas
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Hendrik Poorter
- Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Catherine Roumet
- CEFE, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Jasper van Ruijven
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Francesco Maria Sabatini
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marina Semchenko
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Christopher J Sweeney
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Syngenta, Bracknell, UK
| | - Oscar J Valverde-Barrantes
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Larry M York
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Center for Bioenergy Innovation and Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - M Luke McCormack
- The Root Lab, Center for Tree Science, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, USA
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2
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Bengough AG, Blancaflor EB, Brunner I, Comas LH, Freschet GT, Gessler A, Iversen CM, Janěcek Š, Kliměsová J, Lambers H, McCormack ML, Meier IC, Mommer L, Pagès L, Poorter H, Postma JA, Rewald B, Rose L, Roumet C, Ryser P, Salmon V, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Soudzilovskaia NA, Tharayil N, Valverde-Barrantes OJ, Weemstra M, Weigelt A, Wurzburger N, York LM, Zadworny M. Corrigendum. New Phytol 2022; 235:372. [PMID: 35478324 PMCID: PMC11062053 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
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3
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Yaffar D, Cabugao KG, Meier IC. Representing root physiological traits in the root economic space framework. New Phytol 2022; 234:773-775. [PMID: 35355283 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Yaffar
- Functional Forest Ecology, Universität Hamburg, Barsbüttel, 22885, Germany
| | - Kristine G Cabugao
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Ina C Meier
- Functional Forest Ecology, Universität Hamburg, Barsbüttel, 22885, Germany
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4
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Freschet GT, Roumet C, Comas LH, Weemstra M, Bengough AG, Rewald B, Bardgett RD, De Deyn GB, Johnson D, Klimešová J, Lukac M, McCormack ML, Meier IC, Pagès L, Poorter H, Prieto I, Wurzburger N, Zadworny M, Bagniewska-Zadworna A, Blancaflor EB, Brunner I, Gessler A, Hobbie SE, Iversen CM, Mommer L, Picon-Cochard C, Postma JA, Rose L, Ryser P, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Soudzilovskaia NA, Sun T, Valverde-Barrantes OJ, Weigelt A, York LM, Stokes A. Root traits as drivers of plant and ecosystem functioning: current understanding, pitfalls and future research needs. New Phytol 2021; 232:1123-1158. [PMID: 33159479 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The effects of plants on the biosphere, atmosphere and geosphere are key determinants of terrestrial ecosystem functioning. However, despite substantial progress made regarding plant belowground components, we are still only beginning to explore the complex relationships between root traits and functions. Drawing on the literature in plant physiology, ecophysiology, ecology, agronomy and soil science, we reviewed 24 aspects of plant and ecosystem functioning and their relationships with a number of root system traits, including aspects of architecture, physiology, morphology, anatomy, chemistry, biomechanics and biotic interactions. Based on this assessment, we critically evaluated the current strengths and gaps in our knowledge, and identify future research challenges in the field of root ecology. Most importantly, we found that belowground traits with the broadest importance in plant and ecosystem functioning are not those most commonly measured. Also, the estimation of trait relative importance for functioning requires us to consider a more comprehensive range of functionally relevant traits from a diverse range of species, across environments and over time series. We also advocate that establishing causal hierarchical links among root traits will provide a hypothesis-based framework to identify the most parsimonious sets of traits with the strongest links on functions, and to link genotypes to plant and ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire T Freschet
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, CNRS, 2 route du CNRS, Moulis, 09200, France
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, 34293, France
| | - Catherine Roumet
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, 34293, France
| | - Louise H Comas
- USDA-ARS Water Management and Systems Research Unit, 2150 Centre Avenue, Bldg D, Suite 320, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA
| | - Monique Weemstra
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, 34293, France
| | - A Glyn Bengough
- The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK
- School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, UK
| | - Boris Rewald
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, 1190, Austria
| | - Richard D Bardgett
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Gerlinde B De Deyn
- Soil Biology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, 6700 AA, the Netherlands
| | - David Johnson
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Jitka Klimešová
- Department of Functional Ecology, Institute of Botany CAS, Dukelska 135, Trebon, 37901, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Lukac
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6EU, UK
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - M Luke McCormack
- Center for Tree Science, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rt. 53, Lisle, IL, 60532, USA
| | - Ina C Meier
- Plant Ecology, University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, Göttingen, 37073, Germany
- Functional Forest Ecology, University of Hamburg, Haidkrugsweg 1, Barsbüttel, 22885, Germany
| | - Loïc Pagès
- UR 1115 PSH, Centre PACA, site Agroparc, INRAE, Avignon Cedex 9, 84914, France
| | - Hendrik Poorter
- Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, D-52425, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Iván Prieto
- Departamento de Conservación de Suelos y Agua, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEBAS-CSIC), Murcia, 30100, Spain
| | - Nina Wurzburger
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 140 E. Green Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Marcin Zadworny
- Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, Kórnik, 62-035, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Bagniewska-Zadworna
- Department of General Botany, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, Poznań, 61-614, Poland
| | - Elison B Blancaflor
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK, 73401, USA
| | - Ivano Brunner
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstr. 111, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
| | - Arthur Gessler
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstr. 111, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
- Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Sarah E Hobbie
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Colleen M Iversen
- Environmental Sciences Division and Climate Change Science Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Liesje Mommer
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, PO box 47, Wageningen, 6700 AA, the Netherlands
| | | | - Johannes A Postma
- Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, D-52425, Germany
| | - Laura Rose
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, CNRS, 2 route du CNRS, Moulis, 09200, France
| | - Peter Ryser
- Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada
| | | | - Nadejda A Soudzilovskaia
- Environmental Biology Department, Institute of Environmental Sciences, CML, Leiden University, Leiden, 2333 CC, the Netherlands
| | - Tao Sun
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Oscar J Valverde-Barrantes
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Alexandra Weigelt
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 21-23, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Larry M York
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK, 73401, USA
| | - Alexia Stokes
- INRA, AMAP, CIRAD, IRD, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, 34000, France
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5
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Freschet GT, Pagès L, Iversen CM, Comas LH, Rewald B, Roumet C, Klimešová J, Zadworny M, Poorter H, Postma JA, Adams TS, Bagniewska‐Zadworna A, Bengough AG, Blancaflor EB, Brunner I, Cornelissen JHC, Garnier E, Gessler A, Hobbie SE, Meier IC, Mommer L, Picon‐Cochard C, Rose L, Ryser P, Scherer‐Lorenzen M, Soudzilovskaia NA, Stokes A, Sun T, Valverde‐Barrantes OJ, Weemstra M, Weigelt A, Wurzburger N, York LM, Batterman SA, Gomes de Moraes M, Janeček Š, Lambers H, Salmon V, Tharayil N, McCormack ML. A starting guide to root ecology: strengthening ecological concepts and standardising root classification, sampling, processing and trait measurements. New Phytol 2021; 232:973-1122. [PMID: 34608637 PMCID: PMC8518129 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In the context of a recent massive increase in research on plant root functions and their impact on the environment, root ecologists currently face many important challenges to keep on generating cutting-edge, meaningful and integrated knowledge. Consideration of the below-ground components in plant and ecosystem studies has been consistently called for in recent decades, but methodology is disparate and sometimes inappropriate. This handbook, based on the collective effort of a large team of experts, will improve trait comparisons across studies and integration of information across databases by providing standardised methods and controlled vocabularies. It is meant to be used not only as starting point by students and scientists who desire working on below-ground ecosystems, but also by experts for consolidating and broadening their views on multiple aspects of root ecology. Beyond the classical compilation of measurement protocols, we have synthesised recommendations from the literature to provide key background knowledge useful for: (1) defining below-ground plant entities and giving keys for their meaningful dissection, classification and naming beyond the classical fine-root vs coarse-root approach; (2) considering the specificity of root research to produce sound laboratory and field data; (3) describing typical, but overlooked steps for studying roots (e.g. root handling, cleaning and storage); and (4) gathering metadata necessary for the interpretation of results and their reuse. Most importantly, all root traits have been introduced with some degree of ecological context that will be a foundation for understanding their ecological meaning, their typical use and uncertainties, and some methodological and conceptual perspectives for future research. Considering all of this, we urge readers not to solely extract protocol recommendations for trait measurements from this work, but to take a moment to read and reflect on the extensive information contained in this broader guide to root ecology, including sections I-VII and the many introductions to each section and root trait description. Finally, it is critical to understand that a major aim of this guide is to help break down barriers between the many subdisciplines of root ecology and ecophysiology, broaden researchers' views on the multiple aspects of root study and create favourable conditions for the inception of comprehensive experiments on the role of roots in plant and ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire T. Freschet
- CEFEUniv Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD1919 route de MendeMontpellier34293France
- Station d’Ecologie Théorique et ExpérimentaleCNRS2 route du CNRS09200MoulisFrance
| | - Loïc Pagès
- UR 1115 PSHCentre PACA, site AgroparcINRAE84914Avignon cedex 9France
| | - Colleen M. Iversen
- Environmental Sciences Division and Climate Change Science InstituteOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTN37831USA
| | - Louise H. Comas
- USDA‐ARS Water Management Research Unit2150 Centre Avenue, Bldg D, Suite 320Fort CollinsCO80526USA
| | - Boris Rewald
- Department of Forest and Soil SciencesUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesVienna1190Austria
| | - Catherine Roumet
- CEFEUniv Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD1919 route de MendeMontpellier34293France
| | - Jitka Klimešová
- Department of Functional EcologyInstitute of Botany CASDukelska 13537901TrebonCzech Republic
| | - Marcin Zadworny
- Institute of DendrologyPolish Academy of SciencesParkowa 562‐035KórnikPoland
| | - Hendrik Poorter
- Plant Sciences (IBG‐2)Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbHD‐52425JülichGermany
- Department of Biological SciencesMacquarie UniversityNorth RydeNSW2109Australia
| | | | - Thomas S. Adams
- Department of Plant SciencesThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPA16802USA
| | - Agnieszka Bagniewska‐Zadworna
- Department of General BotanyInstitute of Experimental BiologyFaculty of BiologyAdam Mickiewicz UniversityUniwersytetu Poznańskiego 661-614PoznańPoland
| | - A. Glyn Bengough
- The James Hutton InstituteInvergowrie, Dundee,DD2 5DAUK
- School of Science and EngineeringUniversity of DundeeDundee,DD1 4HNUK
| | | | - Ivano Brunner
- Forest Soils and BiogeochemistrySwiss Federal Research Institute WSLZürcherstr. 1118903BirmensdorfSwitzerland
| | - Johannes H. C. Cornelissen
- Department of Ecological ScienceFaculty of ScienceVrije Universiteit AmsterdamDe Boelelaan 1085Amsterdam1081 HVthe Netherlands
| | - Eric Garnier
- CEFEUniv Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD1919 route de MendeMontpellier34293France
| | - Arthur Gessler
- Forest DynamicsSwiss Federal Research Institute WSLZürcherstr. 1118903BirmensdorfSwitzerland
- Institute of Terrestrial EcosystemsETH Zurich8092ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Sarah E. Hobbie
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and BehaviorUniversity of MinnesotaSt PaulMN55108USA
| | - Ina C. Meier
- Functional Forest EcologyUniversity of HamburgHaidkrugsweg 122885BarsbütelGermany
| | - Liesje Mommer
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation GroupDepartment of Environmental SciencesWageningen University and ResearchPO Box 476700 AAWageningenthe Netherlands
| | | | - Laura Rose
- Station d’Ecologie Théorique et ExpérimentaleCNRS2 route du CNRS09200MoulisFrance
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F)Senckenberganlage 2560325Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Peter Ryser
- Laurentian University935 Ramsey Lake RoadSudburyONP3E 2C6Canada
| | | | - Nadejda A. Soudzilovskaia
- Environmental Biology DepartmentInstitute of Environmental SciencesCMLLeiden UniversityLeiden2300 RAthe Netherlands
| | - Alexia Stokes
- INRAEAMAPCIRAD, IRDCNRSUniversity of MontpellierMontpellier34000France
| | - Tao Sun
- Institute of Applied EcologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenyang110016China
| | - Oscar J. Valverde‐Barrantes
- International Center for Tropical BotanyDepartment of Biological SciencesFlorida International UniversityMiamiFL33199USA
| | - Monique Weemstra
- CEFEUniv Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD1919 route de MendeMontpellier34293France
| | - Alexandra Weigelt
- Systematic Botany and Functional BiodiversityInstitute of BiologyLeipzig UniversityJohannisallee 21-23Leipzig04103Germany
| | - Nina Wurzburger
- Odum School of EcologyUniversity of Georgia140 E. Green StreetAthensGA30602USA
| | - Larry M. York
- Biosciences Division and Center for Bioenergy InnovationOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTN37831USA
| | - Sarah A. Batterman
- School of Geography and Priestley International Centre for ClimateUniversity of LeedsLeedsLS2 9JTUK
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem StudiesMillbrookNY12545USA
| | - Moemy Gomes de Moraes
- Department of BotanyInstitute of Biological SciencesFederal University of Goiás1974690-900Goiânia, GoiásBrazil
| | - Štěpán Janeček
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Western Australia35 Stirling HighwayCrawley (Perth)WA 6009Australia
| | - Hans Lambers
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Western AustraliaCrawley (Perth)WAAustralia
| | - Verity Salmon
- Environmental Sciences Division and Climate Change Science InstituteOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTN37831USA
| | - Nishanth Tharayil
- Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesClemson UniversityClemsonSC29634USA
| | - M. Luke McCormack
- Center for Tree ScienceMorton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rt. 53LisleIL60532USA
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6
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Freschet GT, Pagès L, Iversen CM, Comas LH, Rewald B, Roumet C, Klimešová J, Zadworny M, Poorter H, Postma JA, Adams TS, Bagniewska-Zadworna A, Bengough AG, Blancaflor EB, Brunner I, Cornelissen JHC, Garnier E, Gessler A, Hobbie SE, Meier IC, Mommer L, Picon-Cochard C, Rose L, Ryser P, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Soudzilovskaia NA, Stokes A, Sun T, Valverde-Barrantes OJ, Weemstra M, Weigelt A, Wurzburger N, York LM, Batterman SA, Gomes de Moraes M, Janeček Š, Lambers H, Salmon V, Tharayil N, McCormack ML. A starting guide to root ecology: strengthening ecological concepts and standardising root classification, sampling, processing and trait measurements. New Phytol 2021. [PMID: 34608637 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17572.hal-03379708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
In the context of a recent massive increase in research on plant root functions and their impact on the environment, root ecologists currently face many important challenges to keep on generating cutting-edge, meaningful and integrated knowledge. Consideration of the below-ground components in plant and ecosystem studies has been consistently called for in recent decades, but methodology is disparate and sometimes inappropriate. This handbook, based on the collective effort of a large team of experts, will improve trait comparisons across studies and integration of information across databases by providing standardised methods and controlled vocabularies. It is meant to be used not only as starting point by students and scientists who desire working on below-ground ecosystems, but also by experts for consolidating and broadening their views on multiple aspects of root ecology. Beyond the classical compilation of measurement protocols, we have synthesised recommendations from the literature to provide key background knowledge useful for: (1) defining below-ground plant entities and giving keys for their meaningful dissection, classification and naming beyond the classical fine-root vs coarse-root approach; (2) considering the specificity of root research to produce sound laboratory and field data; (3) describing typical, but overlooked steps for studying roots (e.g. root handling, cleaning and storage); and (4) gathering metadata necessary for the interpretation of results and their reuse. Most importantly, all root traits have been introduced with some degree of ecological context that will be a foundation for understanding their ecological meaning, their typical use and uncertainties, and some methodological and conceptual perspectives for future research. Considering all of this, we urge readers not to solely extract protocol recommendations for trait measurements from this work, but to take a moment to read and reflect on the extensive information contained in this broader guide to root ecology, including sections I-VII and the many introductions to each section and root trait description. Finally, it is critical to understand that a major aim of this guide is to help break down barriers between the many subdisciplines of root ecology and ecophysiology, broaden researchers' views on the multiple aspects of root study and create favourable conditions for the inception of comprehensive experiments on the role of roots in plant and ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire T Freschet
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 1919 route de Mende, Montpellier, 34293, France
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, CNRS, 2 route du CNRS, 09200, Moulis, France
| | - Loïc Pagès
- UR 1115 PSH, Centre PACA, site Agroparc, INRAE, 84914, Avignon cedex 9, France
| | - Colleen M Iversen
- Environmental Sciences Division and Climate Change Science Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Louise H Comas
- USDA-ARS Water Management Research Unit, 2150 Centre Avenue, Bldg D, Suite 320, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA
| | - Boris Rewald
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, 1190, Austria
| | - Catherine Roumet
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 1919 route de Mende, Montpellier, 34293, France
| | - Jitka Klimešová
- Department of Functional Ecology, Institute of Botany CAS, Dukelska 135, 37901, Trebon, Czech Republic
| | - Marcin Zadworny
- Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035, Kórnik, Poland
| | - Hendrik Poorter
- Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Johannes A Postma
- Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Thomas S Adams
- Department of Plant Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Agnieszka Bagniewska-Zadworna
- Department of General Botany, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - A Glyn Bengough
- The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee,, DD2 5DA, UK
- School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee,, DD1 4HN, UK
| | - Elison B Blancaflor
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK, 73401, USA
| | - Ivano Brunner
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstr. 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Johannes H C Cornelissen
- Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, the Netherlands
| | - Eric Garnier
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 1919 route de Mende, Montpellier, 34293, France
| | - Arthur Gessler
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstr. 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sarah E Hobbie
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Ina C Meier
- Functional Forest Ecology, University of Hamburg, Haidkrugsweg 1, 22885, Barsbütel, Germany
| | - Liesje Mommer
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Laura Rose
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, CNRS, 2 route du CNRS, 09200, Moulis, France
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Peter Ryser
- Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada
| | | | - Nadejda A Soudzilovskaia
- Environmental Biology Department, Institute of Environmental Sciences, CML, Leiden University, Leiden, 2300 RA, the Netherlands
| | - Alexia Stokes
- INRAE, AMAP, CIRAD, IRD, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, 34000, France
| | - Tao Sun
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Oscar J Valverde-Barrantes
- International Center for Tropical Botany, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Monique Weemstra
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 1919 route de Mende, Montpellier, 34293, France
| | - Alexandra Weigelt
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 21-23, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Nina Wurzburger
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 140 E. Green Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Larry M York
- Biosciences Division and Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Sarah A Batterman
- School of Geography and Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, 12545, USA
| | - Moemy Gomes de Moraes
- Department of Botany, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, 19, 74690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Štěpán Janeček
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley (Perth), WA 6009, Australia
| | - Hans Lambers
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley (Perth), WA, Australia
| | - Verity Salmon
- Environmental Sciences Division and Climate Change Science Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Nishanth Tharayil
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - M Luke McCormack
- Center for Tree Science, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rt. 53, Lisle, IL, 60532, USA
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7
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Weigelt A, Mommer L, Andraczek K, Iversen CM, Bergmann J, Bruelheide H, Fan Y, Freschet GT, Guerrero-Ramírez NR, Kattge J, Kuyper TW, Laughlin DC, Meier IC, van der Plas F, Poorter H, Roumet C, van Ruijven J, Sabatini FM, Semchenko M, Sweeney CJ, Valverde-Barrantes OJ, York LM, McCormack ML. An integrated framework of plant form and function: the belowground perspective. New Phytol 2021; 232:42-59. [PMID: 34197626 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plant trait variation drives plant function, community composition and ecosystem processes. However, our current understanding of trait variation disproportionately relies on aboveground observations. Here we integrate root traits into the global framework of plant form and function. We developed and tested an overarching conceptual framework that integrates two recently identified root trait gradients with a well-established aboveground plant trait framework. We confronted our novel framework with published relationships between above- and belowground trait analogues and with multivariate analyses of above- and belowground traits of 2510 species. Our traits represent the leaf and root conservation gradients (specific leaf area, leaf and root nitrogen concentration, and root tissue density), the root collaboration gradient (root diameter and specific root length) and the plant size gradient (plant height and rooting depth). We found that an integrated, whole-plant trait space required as much as four axes. The two main axes represented the fast-slow 'conservation' gradient on which leaf and fine-root traits were well aligned, and the 'collaboration' gradient in roots. The two additional axes were separate, orthogonal plant size axes for height and rooting depth. This perspective on the multidimensional nature of plant trait variation better encompasses plant function and influence on the surrounding environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Weigelt
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Liesje Mommer
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, Wageningen, 6700 AA, the Netherlands
| | - Karl Andraczek
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Colleen M Iversen
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Climate Change Science Institute and Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Joana Bergmann
- Sustainable Grassland Systems, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Paulinenaue, 14641, Germany
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, 06108, Germany
| | - Ying Fan
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Grégoire T Freschet
- Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station (SETE), National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Moulis, 09200, France
| | - Nathaly R Guerrero-Ramírez
- Biodiversity, Macroecology & Biogeography, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Jens Kattge
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
- Functional Biogeography, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, 07745, Germany
| | - Thom W Kuyper
- Soil Biology Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, Wageningen, 6700 AA, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel C Laughlin
- Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Ina C Meier
- Functional Forest Ecology, Department of Biology, Universität Hamburg, Barsbüttel-Willinghusen, 22885, Germany
| | - Fons van der Plas
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, Wageningen, 6700 AA, the Netherlands
| | - Hendrik Poorter
- Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, 52425, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Catherine Roumet
- CEFE, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, University Montpellier, Montpellier, 34293, France
| | - Jasper van Ruijven
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, Wageningen, 6700 AA, the Netherlands
| | - Francesco Maria Sabatini
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, 06108, Germany
| | - Marina Semchenko
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, 51005, Estonia
| | - Christopher J Sweeney
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Oscar J Valverde-Barrantes
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Larry M York
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, Ardmore, OK, 73401, USA
| | - M Luke McCormack
- The Root Lab, Center for Tree Science, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, 60515, USA
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8
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Laughlin DC, Mommer L, Sabatini FM, Bruelheide H, Kuyper TW, McCormack ML, Bergmann J, Freschet GT, Guerrero-Ramírez NR, Iversen CM, Kattge J, Meier IC, Poorter H, Roumet C, Semchenko M, Sweeney CJ, Valverde-Barrantes OJ, van der Plas F, van Ruijven J, York LM, Aubin I, Burge OR, Byun C, Ćušterevska R, Dengler J, Forey E, Guerin GR, Hérault B, Jackson RB, Karger DN, Lenoir J, Lysenko T, Meir P, Niinemets Ü, Ozinga WA, Peñuelas J, Reich PB, Schmidt M, Schrodt F, Velázquez E, Weigelt A. Root traits explain plant species distributions along climatic gradients yet challenge the nature of ecological trade-offs. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:1123-1134. [PMID: 34112996 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01471-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Ecological theory is built on trade-offs, where trait differences among species evolved as adaptations to different environments. Trade-offs are often assumed to be bidirectional, where opposite ends of a gradient in trait values confer advantages in different environments. However, unidirectional benefits could be widespread if extreme trait values confer advantages at one end of an environmental gradient, whereas a wide range of trait values are equally beneficial at the other end. Here, we show that root traits explain species occurrences along broad gradients of temperature and water availability, but model predictions only resembled trade-offs in two out of 24 models. Forest species with low specific root length and high root tissue density (RTD) were more likely to occur in warm climates but species with high specific root length and low RTD were more likely to occur in cold climates. Unidirectional benefits were more prevalent than trade-offs: for example, species with large-diameter roots and high RTD were more commonly associated with dry climates, but species with the opposite trait values were not associated with wet climates. Directional selection for traits consistently occurred in cold or dry climates, whereas a diversity of root trait values were equally viable in warm or wet climates. Explicit integration of unidirectional benefits into ecological theory is needed to advance our understanding of the consequences of trait variation on species responses to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liesje Mommer
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Francesco Maria Sabatini
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Thom W Kuyper
- Soil Biology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Joana Bergmann
- Sustainable Grassland Systems, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Paulinenaue, Germany
| | - Grégoire T Freschet
- Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station (SETE), National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Moulis, France
| | - Nathaly R Guerrero-Ramírez
- Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Colleen M Iversen
- Climate Change Science Institute and Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Jens Kattge
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Functional Biogeography, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - Ina C Meier
- Functional Forest Ecology, Department of Biology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hendrik Poorter
- Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.,Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Catherine Roumet
- CEFE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Marina Semchenko
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Christopher J Sweeney
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Oscar J Valverde-Barrantes
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Fons van der Plas
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.,Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jasper van Ruijven
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Isabelle Aubin
- Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada
| | - Olivia R Burge
- Ecosystems and Conservation, Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Chaeho Byun
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
| | - Renata Ćušterevska
- Institute of Biology, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, North Macedonia
| | - Jürgen Dengler
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Natural Resource Sciences (IUNR), Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Wädenswil, Switzerland.,Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Estelle Forey
- Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, INRAE, ECODIV, Rouen, France
| | - Greg R Guerin
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bruno Hérault
- CIRAD, UPR Forêts et Sociétés, Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire.,Forêts et Sociétés, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France.,Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Robert B Jackson
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Dirk Nikolaus Karger
- Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Spatial Evolutionary Ecology, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan Lenoir
- UMR CNRS 7058 'Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés (EDYSAN)', Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Tatiana Lysenko
- Laboratory of Vegetation Science, Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Laboratory of Phytodiversity Problems and Phytocoenology, Institute of Ecology of the Volga River Basin, Samara Scientific Center, RAS, Togliatti, Russia.,Group of Ecology of living organisms, Tobolsk Complex Scientific Station, Ural Branch, RAS, Tobolsk, Russia
| | - Patrick Meir
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ülo Niinemets
- Crop Science and Plant Biology, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia.,Estonian Academy of Sciences, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Wim A Ozinga
- Vegetation, Forest and Landscape Ecology, Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Barcelona, Spain.,CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Peter B Reich
- Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA.,Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Marco Schmidt
- Data and Modelling Centre, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt, Germany.,Palmengarten, Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Eduardo Velázquez
- Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute, University of Valladolid and INIA, Palencia, Spain.,School of Agricultural Engineering, University of Valladolid, Palencia, Spain
| | - Alexandra Weigelt
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
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9
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Prescott CE, Grayston SJ, Helmisaari HS, Kaštovská E, Körner C, Lambers H, Meier IC, Millard P, Ostonen I. Rhizosphere 'Trade' Is an Unnecessary Analogy: Response to Noë. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:176-177. [PMID: 33419596 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cindy E Prescott
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada.
| | - Sue J Grayston
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Heljä-Sisko Helmisaari
- Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eva Kaštovská
- Department of Ecosystem Biology, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, Ceske Budejovice 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Christian Körner
- Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstr. 6, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hans Lambers
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley (Perth), WA 6009, Australia
| | - Ina C Meier
- Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, Haidkrugsweg 1, 22885 Barsbüttel-Willinghusen, Germany
| | - Peter Millard
- Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand
| | - Ivika Ostonen
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia
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10
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Prescott CE, Grayston SJ, Helmisaari HS, Kaštovská E, Körner C, Lambers H, Meier IC, Millard P, Ostonen I. Surplus Carbon Drives Allocation and Plant-Soil Interactions. Trends Ecol Evol 2020; 35:1110-1118. [PMID: 32928565 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Plant growth is usually constrained by the availability of nutrients, water, or temperature, rather than photosynthetic carbon (C) fixation. Under these conditions leaf growth is curtailed more than C fixation, and the surplus photosynthates are exported from the leaf. In plants limited by nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P), photosynthates are converted into sugars and secondary metabolites. Some surplus C is translocated to roots and released as root exudates or transferred to root-associated microorganisms. Surplus C is also produced under low moisture availability, low temperature, and high atmospheric CO2 concentrations, with similar below-ground effects. Many interactions among above- and below-ground ecosystem components can be parsimoniously explained by the production, distribution, and release of surplus C under conditions that limit plant growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy E Prescott
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T1Z4.
| | - Sue J Grayston
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T1Z4
| | - Heljä-Sisko Helmisaari
- Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eva Kaštovská
- Department of Ecosystem Biology, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, Ceske Budejovice 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Christian Körner
- Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstr. 6, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hans Lambers
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley (Perth), WA 6009, Australia
| | - Ina C Meier
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Peter Millard
- Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand
| | - Ivika Ostonen
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia
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11
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Bergmann J, Weigelt A, van der Plas F, Laughlin DC, Kuyper TW, Guerrero-Ramirez N, Valverde-Barrantes OJ, Bruelheide H, Freschet GT, Iversen CM, Kattge J, McCormack ML, Meier IC, Rillig MC, Roumet C, Semchenko M, Sweeney CJ, van Ruijven J, York LM, Mommer L. The fungal collaboration gradient dominates the root economics space in plants. Sci Adv 2020; 6:eaba3756. [PMID: 32937432 PMCID: PMC7458448 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba3756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Plant economics run on carbon and nutrients instead of money. Leaf strategies aboveground span an economic spectrum from "live fast and die young" to "slow and steady," but the economy defined by root strategies belowground remains unclear. Here, we take a holistic view of the belowground economy and show that root-mycorrhizal collaboration can short circuit a one-dimensional economic spectrum, providing an entire space of economic possibilities. Root trait data from 1810 species across the globe confirm a classical fast-slow "conservation" gradient but show that most variation is explained by an orthogonal "collaboration" gradient, ranging from "do-it-yourself" resource uptake to "outsourcing" of resource uptake to mycorrhizal fungi. This broadened "root economics space" provides a solid foundation for predictive understanding of belowground responses to changing environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Bergmann
- Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandra Weigelt
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Fons van der Plas
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | - Nathaly Guerrero-Ramirez
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Helge Bruelheide
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Grégoire T Freschet
- CEFE, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale (CNRS, Université Toulouse III), Moulis, France
| | | | - Jens Kattge
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | - Matthias C Rillig
- Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Catherine Roumet
- CEFE, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Marina Semchenko
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Christopher J Sweeney
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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12
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Meier IC, Tückmantel T, Heitkötter J, Müller K, Preusser S, Wrobel TJ, Kandeler E, Marschner B, Leuschner C. Root exudation of mature beech forests across a nutrient availability gradient: the role of root morphology and fungal activity. New Phytol 2020; 226:583-594. [PMID: 31868933 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Root exudation is a key plant function with a large influence on soil organic matter dynamics and plant-soil feedbacks in forest ecosystems. Yet despite its importance, the main ecological drivers of root exudation in mature forest trees remain to be identified. During two growing seasons, we analyzed the dependence of in situ collected root exudates on root morphology, soil chemistry and nutrient availability in six mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests on a broad range of bedrock types. Root morphology was a major driver of root exudation across the nutrient availability gradient. A doubling of specific root length exponentially increased exudation rates of mature trees by c. 5-fold. Root exudation was also closely negatively related to soil pH and nitrogen (N) availability. At acidic and N-poor sites, where fungal biomass was reduced, exudation rates were c. 3-fold higher than at N- and base-richer sites and correlated negatively with the activity of enzymes degrading less bioavailable carbon (C) and N in the bulk soil. We conclude that root exudation increases on highly acidic, N-poor soils, in which fungal activity is reduced and a greater portion of the assimilated plant C is shifted to the external ecosystem C cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina C Meier
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Timo Tückmantel
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Julian Heitkötter
- Soil Science and Soil Ecology, Institute of Geography, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Karolin Müller
- Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Soil Biology Department, University of Hohenheim, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sebastian Preusser
- Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Soil Biology Department, University of Hohenheim, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Thomas J Wrobel
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ellen Kandeler
- Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Soil Biology Department, University of Hohenheim, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Bernd Marschner
- Soil Science and Soil Ecology, Institute of Geography, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Christoph Leuschner
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
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Rewald B, Ammer C, Hartmann H, Malyshev AV, Meier IC. Editorial: Woody Plants and Forest Ecosystems in a Complex World-Ecological Interactions and Physiological Functioning Above and Below Ground. Front Plant Sci 2020; 11:173. [PMID: 32184797 PMCID: PMC7058592 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Boris Rewald
- Forest Ecology, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Ammer
- Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Henrik Hartmann
- Department of Biogeochemical Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - Andrey V. Malyshev
- Experimental Plant Ecology, Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ina C. Meier
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Halbritter AH, De Boeck HJ, Eycott AE, Reinsch S, Robinson DA, Vicca S, Berauer B, Christiansen CT, Estiarte M, Grünzweig JM, Gya R, Hansen K, Jentsch A, Lee H, Linder S, Marshall J, Peñuelas J, Kappel Schmidt I, Stuart‐Haëntjens E, Wilfahrt P, Vandvik V, Abrantes N, Almagro M, Althuizen IHJ, Barrio IC, te Beest M, Beier C, Beil I, Berry ZC, Birkemoe T, Bjerke JW, Blonder B, Blume‐Werry G, Bohrer G, Campos I, Cernusak LA, Chojnicki BH, Cosby BJ, Dickman LT, Djukic I, Filella I, Fuchslueger L, Gargallo‐Garriga A, Gillespie MAK, Goldsmith GR, Gough C, Halliday FW, Joar Hegland S, Hoch G, Holub P, Jaroszynska F, Johnson DM, Jones SB, Kardol P, Keizer JJ, Klem K, Konestabo HS, Kreyling J, Kröel‐Dulay G, Landhäusser SM, Larsen KS, Leblans N, Lebron I, Lehmann MM, Lembrechts JJ, Lenz A, Linstädter A, Llusià J, Macias‐Fauria M, Malyshev AV, Mänd P, Marshall M, Matheny AM, McDowell N, Meier IC, Meinzer FC, Michaletz ST, Miller ML, Muffler L, Oravec M, Ostonen I, Porcar‐Castell A, Preece C, Prentice IC, Radujković D, Ravolainen V, Ribbons R, Ruppert JC, Sack L, Sardans J, Schindlbacher A, Scoffoni C, Sigurdsson BD, Smart S, Smith SW, Soper F, Speed JDM, Sverdrup‐Thygeson A, Sydenham MAK, Taghizadeh‐Toosi A, Telford RJ, Tielbörger K, Töpper JP, Urban O, Ploeg M, Van Langenhove L, Večeřová K, Ven A, Verbruggen E, Vik U, Weigel R, Wohlgemuth T, Wood LK, Zinnert J, Zurba K. The handbook for standardized field and laboratory measurements in terrestrial climate change experiments and observational studies (ClimEx). Methods Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aud H. Halbritter
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research University of Bergen Bergen Norway
| | - Hans J. De Boeck
- Department of Biology Centre of Excellence PLECO (Plants and Ecosystems) Universiteit Antwerpen Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Amy E. Eycott
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Bergen Bergen Norway
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture Nord University Steinkjer Norway
| | - Sabine Reinsch
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Environment Centre Wales Bangor UK
| | | | - Sara Vicca
- Department of Biology Centre of Excellence PLECO (Plants and Ecosystems) Universiteit Antwerpen Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Bernd Berauer
- Department of Disturbance Ecology University of Bayreuth Bayreuth Germany
| | | | - Marc Estiarte
- CSIC Global Ecology Unit CREAF‐CSIC‐UAB Bellaterra Spain
- CREAF Vallès Spain
| | - José M. Grünzweig
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Rehovot Israel
| | - Ragnhild Gya
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research University of Bergen Bergen Norway
| | - Karin Hansen
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Stockholm Sweden
- Swedish Environmental Research Institute IVL Stockholm Sweden
| | - Anke Jentsch
- Department of Disturbance Ecology University of Bayreuth Bayreuth Germany
| | - Hanna Lee
- NORCE Norwegian Research Centre and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research Bergen Norway
| | - Sune Linder
- Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Alnarp Sweden
| | - John Marshall
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Umeå Sweden
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- CSIC Global Ecology Unit CREAF‐CSIC‐UAB Bellaterra Spain
- CREAF Vallès Spain
| | - Inger Kappel Schmidt
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management University of Copenhagen Frederiksberg Denmark
| | | | - Peter Wilfahrt
- Department of Disturbance Ecology University of Bayreuth Bayreuth Germany
| | - Vigdis Vandvik
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research University of Bergen Bergen Norway
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15
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Dirks I, Köhler J, Rachmilevitch S, Meier IC. The Phosphorus Economy of Mediterranean Oak Saplings Under Global Change. Front Plant Sci 2019; 10:405. [PMID: 31024583 PMCID: PMC6459984 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
While a severe decrease in phosphorus (P) availability is already taking place in a large number of ecosystems, drought and nitrogen (N) deposition will likely further decrease the availability of P under global change. Plants have developed physiological strategies to cope with decreasing P resources, but it is unclear how these strategies respond to elevated N deposition and summer droughts. We investigated the influence of N and P availability and soil drought on P uptake (H3 33PO4 feeding experiment) and use efficiencies in young Quercus calliprinos Webb. trees. We hypothesized that (H1) the expected increases in soil N:P ratios will increase the efficiencies of P uptake and use of oak saplings but will decrease the efficiencies of N uptake and use, whereas (H2) drought will affect P uptake efficiency more than N uptake efficiency. In confirmation of (H1) we found that a sharp increase of the soil N:P ratio from 4 to 42 g g-1 significantly increased the instantaneous 33P uptake efficiency (33PUptakeE) by five-fold and long-term P uptake efficiency (PUptakeE) by six-fold, while it decreased N uptake efficiency (NUptakeE) and N use efficiency (NUE). In contradiction to (H1), P use efficiency (PUE) did not respond to the simulated extended gradient of soil N:P ratios but remained relatively constant. (H2) was only partially confirmed as soil drought reduced PUptakeE by up to a fourth at high soil N:P ratios but had no significant effect on NUptakeE. As a consequence, increasing summer droughts may decrease the response of PUptakeE to increasing P limitation, which - in the absence of adjustments of the efficiency of P use - can aggravate growth reductions in this eastern Mediterranean tree species under global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Dirks
- French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Julia Köhler
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Shimon Rachmilevitch
- French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Ina C. Meier
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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16
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Köhler J, Yang N, Pena R, Raghavan V, Polle A, Meier IC. Ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity increases phosphorus uptake efficiency of European beech. New Phytol 2018; 220:1200-1210. [PMID: 29770963 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Increases in summer droughts and nitrogen (N) deposition have raised concerns of widespread biodiversity loss and nutrient imbalances, but our understanding of the ecological role of ectomycorrhizal fungal (ECMF) diversity in mediating root functions remains a major knowledge gap. We used different global change scenarios to experimentally alter the composition of ECMF communities colonizing European beech saplings and examined the consequences for phosphorus (P) uptake (H333 PO4 feeding experiment) and use efficiencies of trees. Specifically, we simulated increases in temperature and N deposition and decreases in soil moisture and P availability in a factorial experiment. Here, we show that ECMF α diversity is a major factor contributing to root functioning under global change. P uptake efficiency of beech significantly increased with increasing ECMF species richness and diversity, as well as with decreasing P availability. As a consequence of decreases in ECMF diversity, P uptake efficiency decreased when soil moisture was limiting. By contrast, P use efficiencies were a direct (negative) function of P availability and not of ECMF diversity. We conclude that increasing summer droughts may reduce ECMF diversity and the complementarity of P uptake by ECMF species, which will add to negative growth effects expected from nutrient imbalances under global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Köhler
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, 37073, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Nan Yang
- Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, University of Goettingen, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Rodica Pena
- Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, University of Goettingen, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Venket Raghavan
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, 37073, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Polle
- Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, University of Goettingen, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
- Laboratory for Radio-Isotopes, University of Goettingen, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Ina C Meier
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, 37073, Goettingen, Germany
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17
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Ferlian O, Biere A, Bonfante P, Buscot F, Eisenhauer N, Fernandez I, Hause B, Herrmann S, Krajinski-Barth F, Meier IC, Pozo MJ, Rasmann S, Rillig MC, Tarkka MT, van Dam NM, Wagg C, Martinez-Medina A. Growing Research Networks on Mycorrhizae for Mutual Benefits. Trends Plant Sci 2018; 23:975-984. [PMID: 30241736 PMCID: PMC6370000 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2018.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Research on mycorrhizal interactions has traditionally developed into separate disciplines addressing different organizational levels. This separation has led to an incomplete understanding of mycorrhizal functioning. Integration of mycorrhiza research at different scales is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying the context dependency of mycorrhizal associations, and to use mycorrhizae for solving environmental issues. Here, we provide a road map for the integration of mycorrhiza research into a unique framework that spans genes to ecosystems. Using two key topics, we identify parallels in mycorrhiza research at different organizational levels. Based on two current projects, we show how scientific integration creates synergies, and discuss future directions. Only by overcoming disciplinary boundaries, we will achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the functioning of mycorrhizal associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Ferlian
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Arjen Biere
- Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paola Bonfante
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - François Buscot
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120 Halle, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nico Eisenhauer
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ivan Fernandez
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Bettina Hause
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Sylvie Herrmann
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120 Halle, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Ina C Meier
- Plant Ecology, University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maria J Pozo
- Department of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), Prof. Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Sergio Rasmann
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Matthias C Rillig
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Altensteinstr. 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mika T Tarkka
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120 Halle, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nicole M van Dam
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Str. 159, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Cameron Wagg
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ainhoa Martinez-Medina
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Str. 159, 07743 Jena, Germany.
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18
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Liese R, Lübbe T, Albers NW, Meier IC. The mycorrhizal type governs root exudation and nitrogen uptake of temperate tree species. Tree Physiol 2018; 38:83-95. [PMID: 29126247 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpx131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Even though the two dominant mycorrhizal associations of temperate tree species differentially couple carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles in temperate forests, systematic differences between the biogeochemical cycles of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) tree species remain poorly described. A classification according to the mycorrhizal type offers the chance, though, to develop a global frame concept for the prediction of temperate ecosystem responses to environmental change. Focusing on the influence of mycorrhizal types on two key plant processes of biogeochemical cycling (root exudation and N acquisition), we investigated four temperate deciduous tree species per mycorrhizal type in a drought experiment in large mesocosms. We hypothesized that (H1) C loss by root exudation is higher in ECM than in AM trees, (H2) drought leads to higher reductions in root exudation of drought-sensitive ECM trees and (H3) inorganic N uptake is higher in AM than in ECM trees. In contradiction to H2, we found no systematic difference in root exudation between the mycorrhizal types at ample soil moisture, but almost twofold higher exudation in ECM trees when exposed to soil drought. In addition, photosynthetic C cost of root exudation strongly increased by ~10-fold in drought-treated ECM trees, while it only doubled in AM trees, which confirms H1. With respect to H3, we corroborated that AM trees had higher absolute and relative inorganic N acquisition rates than ECM trees, while the organic N uptake did not differ between mycorrhizal types. We conclude that ECM trees are less efficient in inorganic N uptake than AM trees, but ECM trees increase root C release as an adaptive response to dry soil to maintain hydraulic conductivity and/or nutrient availability. These systematic differences in key biogeochemical processes support hints on the key role of the mycorrhizal types in coupling C and N cycles in temperate forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Liese
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Torben Lübbe
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nora W Albers
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ina C Meier
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
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19
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Liese R, Alings K, Meier IC. Root Branching Is a Leading Root Trait of the Plant Economics Spectrum in Temperate Trees. Front Plant Sci 2017; 8:315. [PMID: 28337213 PMCID: PMC5340746 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Global vegetation models use conceived relationships between functional traits to simulate ecosystem responses to environmental change. In this context, the concept of the leaf economics spectrum (LES) suggests coordinated leaf trait variation, and separates species which invest resources into short-lived leaves with a high expected energy return rate from species with longer-lived leaves and slower energy return. While it has been assumed that being fast (acquisitive) or slow (conservative) is a general feature for all organ systems, the translation of the LES into a root economics spectrum (RES) for tree species has been hitherto inconclusive. This may be partly due to the assumption that the bulk of tree fine roots have similar uptake functions as leaves, despite the heterogeneity of their environments and resources. In this study we investigated well-established functional leaf and stature traits as well as a high number of fine root traits (14 traits split by different root orders) of 13 dominant or subdominant temperate tree species of Central Europe, representing two phylogenetic groups (gymnosperms and angiosperms) and two mycorrhizal associations (arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal). We found reflected variation in leaf and lower-order root traits in some (surface areas and C:N) but not all (N content and longevity) traits central to the LES. Accordingly, the LES was not mirrored belowground. We identified significant phylogenetic signal in morphological lower-order root traits, i.e., in root tissue density, root diameter, and specific root length. By contrast, root architecture (root branching) was influenced by the mycorrhizal association type which developed independent from phylogeny of the host tree. In structural equation models we show that root branching significantly influences both belowground (direct influence on root C:N) and aboveground (indirect influences on specific leaf area and leaf longevity) traits which relate to resource investment and lifespan. We conclude that branching of lower order roots can be considered a leading root trait of the plant economics spectrum of temperate trees, since it relates to the mycorrhizal association type and belowground resource exploitation; while the dominance of the phylogenetic signal over environmental filtering makes morphological root traits less central for tree economics spectra across different environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ina C. Meier
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of GöttingenGöttingen, Germany
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20
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Meier IC, Pritchard SG, Brzostek ER, McCormack ML, Phillips RP. The rhizosphere and hyphosphere differ in their impacts on carbon and nitrogen cycling in forests exposed to elevated CO₂. New Phytol 2015; 205:1164-1174. [PMID: 25348688 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
While multiple experiments have demonstrated that trees exposed to elevated CO₂ can stimulate microbes to release nutrients from soil organic matter, the importance of root- versus mycorrhizal-induced changes in soil processes are presently unknown. We analyzed the contribution of roots and mycorrhizal activities to carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) turnover in a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) forest exposed to elevated CO₂ by measuring extracellular enzyme activities at soil microsites accessed via root windows. Specifically, we quantified enzyme activity from soil adjacent to root tips (rhizosphere), soil adjacent to hyphal tips (hyphosphere), and bulk soil. During the peak growing season, CO₂ enrichment induced a greater increase of N-releasing enzymes in the rhizosphere (215% increase) than in the hyphosphere (36% increase), but a greater increase of recalcitrant C-degrading enzymes in the hyphosphere (118%) than in the rhizosphere (19%). Nitrogen fertilization influenced the magnitude of CO₂ effects on enzyme activities in the rhizosphere only. At the ecosystem scale, the rhizosphere accounted for c. 50% and 40% of the total activity of N- and C-releasing enzymes, respectively. Collectively, our results suggest that root exudates may contribute more to accelerated N cycling under elevated CO₂ at this site, while mycorrhizal fungi may contribute more to soil C degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina C Meier
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Seth G Pritchard
- Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, 29401, USA
| | - Edward R Brzostek
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - M Luke McCormack
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
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21
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Meier IC, Avis PG, Phillips RP. Fungal communities influence root exudation rates in pine seedlings. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2012; 83:585-95. [PMID: 23013386 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2012] [Revised: 09/19/2012] [Accepted: 09/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Root exudates are hypothesized to play a central role in belowground food webs, nutrient turnover, and soil C dynamics in forests, but little is known about the extent to which root-associated microbial communities influence exudation rates in trees. We used a novel experimental technique to inoculate loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings with indigenous forest fungi to examine how diverse fungal communities influence exudation. Surface-sterilized seeds were sown in intact, unsieved soil cores for 14 weeks to promote root colonization by fungi. After 14 weeks, we transferred seedlings and root-associated fungi into cuvettes and measured exudate accumulation in trap solutions. Both the abundance and identity of root-associated fungi influenced exudation. Exudation rates were greatest in root systems least colonized by ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi and most colonized by putative pathogenic and saprotrophic fungi. However, the ECM community composition was not a strong determinant of exudation rates. These results suggest that environmental conditions that influence the degree to which tree roots are colonized by pathogenic and saprotrophic vs. mutualistic fungi are likely to mediate fluxes of labile C in forest soils, with consequences for soil biogeochemistry and ecosystem processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina C Meier
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
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22
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Phillips RP, Meier IC, Bernhardt ES, Grandy AS, Wickings K, Finzi AC. Roots and fungi accelerate carbon and nitrogen cycling in forests exposed to elevated CO2. Ecol Lett 2012; 15:1042-9. [PMID: 22776588 DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01827.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 222] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2012] [Revised: 05/08/2012] [Accepted: 06/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A common finding in multiple CO(2) enrichment experiments in forests is the lack of soil carbon (C) accumulation owing to microbial priming of 'old' soil organic matter (SOM). However, soil C losses may also result from the accelerated turnover of 'young' microbial tissues that are rich in nitrogen (N) relative to bulk SOM. We measured root-induced changes in soil C dynamics in a pine forest exposed to elevated CO(2) and N enrichment by combining stable isotope analyses, molecular characterisations of SOM and microbial assays. We find strong evidence that the accelerated turnover of root-derived C under elevated CO(2) is sufficient in magnitude to offset increased belowground inputs. In addition, the C losses were associated with accelerated N cycling, suggesting that trees exposed to elevated CO(2) not only enhance N availability by stimulating microbial decomposition of SOM via priming but also increase the rate at which N cycles through microbial pools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard P Phillips
- Department of Biology, 1001 E. Third St, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47403, USA.
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Abstract
How temperate trees respond to drier summers, as predicted by climate change models for parts of Europe and eastern North America, will depend on the drought susceptibility of the root systems. We investigated the importance of the genetic constitution for the belowground drought response of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), in four populations from regions differing in precipitation (520-970 mm year(-1)). Saplings were grown at ample (10 vol.%; well-watered) or reduced (5 vol.%; drought treatment) soil water content in the Göttingen Rhizolab Facility for two consecutive summers, and the responses of fine root biomass, root morphology, root depth distribution, and fine root production and turnover were investigated by a combined mini-rhizotron and harvest technique approach. In the drought treatment, total root mass per plant was reduced by 30-40% as a result of: (1) a reduction in median fine root lifespan by roughly 50% and hence an increase in fine root turnover; and (2) a 10-fold reduction in relative fine root growth rate (productivity per standing root biomass). The root:shoot ratio did not increase with drought. Although beech plants originating from drier climates tended to reduce their root biomass in response to drought less than those from wetter climates, analyses of variance revealed no significant influence of genotype on root mass, morphology, growth rate or turnover. However, most fine root traits showed marked differences between the well-watered and drought treatments. We conclude that beech saplings respond to summer drought primarily by shortening root lifespan, whereas root system structure and root:shoot carbon partitioning pattern are unaltered. Beech fine root growth and turnover exhibited high phenotypic plasticity, but genotypic variation was of minor importance. In contrast, genotype had a strong influence on leaf and shoot morphogenesis and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina C Meier
- Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany.
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