Fine root dynamics across pantropical rainforest ecosystems

Huaraca Huasco, Walter; Riutta, Terhi; Girardin, Cécile A.J.; Hancco Pacha, Fernando; Puma Vilca, Beisit L.; Moore, Sam; Rifai, Sami W.; del Aguila‐Pasquel, Jhon; Araujo Murakami, Alejandro; Freitag, Renata; Morel, Alexandra C.; Demissie, Sheleme; Doughty, Christopher E.; Oliveras, Imma; Galiano Cabrera, Darcy F.; Durand Baca, Liliana; Farfán Amézquita, Filio; Silva Espejo, Javier E.; da Costa, Antonio C.L.; Oblitas Mendoza, Erick; Quesada, Carlos Alberto; Evouna Ondo, Fidele; Edzang Ndong, Josué; Jeffery, Kathryn J.; Mihindou, Vianet; White, Lee J.T.; N'ssi Bengone, Natacha; Ibrahim, Forzia; Addo‐Danso, Shalom D.; Duah‐Gyamfi, Akwasi; Djaney Djagbletey, Gloria; Owusu‐Afriyie, Kennedy; Amissah, Lucy; Mbou, Armel T.; Marthews, Toby R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3727-6468; Metcalfe, Daniel B.; Aragão, Luiz E.O.; Marimon‐Junior, Ben H.; Marimon, Beatriz S.; Majalap, Noreen; Adu‐Bredu, Stephen; Abernethy, Katharine A.; Silman, Miles; Ewers, Robert M.; Meir, Patrick; Malhi, Yadvinder. 2021 Fine root dynamics across pantropical rainforest ecosystems. Global Change Biology, 27 (15). 3657-3680. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15677

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Abstract/Summary

Fine roots constitute a significant component of the net primary productivity (NPP) of forest ecosystems but are much less studied than aboveground NPP. Comparisons across sites and regions are also hampered by inconsistent methodologies, especially in tropical areas. Here, we present a novel dataset of fine root biomass, productivity, residence time, and allocation in tropical old-growth rainforest sites worldwide, measured using consistent methods, and examine how these variables are related to consistently determined soil and climatic characteristics. Our pantropical dataset spans intensive monitoring plots in lowland (wet, semi-deciduous, and deciduous) and montane tropical forests in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia (n = 47). Large spatial variation in fine root dynamics was observed across montane and lowland forest types. In lowland forests, we found a strong positive linear relationship between fine root productivity and sand content, this relationship was even stronger when we considered the fractional allocation of total NPP to fine roots, demonstrating that understanding allocation adds explanatory power to understanding fine root productivity and total NPP. Fine root residence time was a function of multiple factors: soil sand content, soil pH, and maximum water deficit, with longest residence times in acidic, sandy, and water-stressed soils. In tropical montane forests, on the other hand, a different set of relationships prevailed, highlighting the very different nature of montane and lowland forest biomes. Root productivity was a strong positive linear function of mean annual temperature, root residence time was a strong positive function of soil nitrogen content in montane forests, and lastly decreasing soil P content increased allocation of productivity to fine roots. In contrast to the lowlands, environmental conditions were a better predictor for fine root productivity than for fractional allocation of total NPP to fine roots, suggesting that root productivity is a particularly strong driver of NPP allocation in tropical mountain regions.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15677
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Hydro-climate Risks (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	1354-1013
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	allocation, biomass, fine roots, productivity, residence time, soil, turnover
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	07 Jul 2021 15:30 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530628

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