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Shifts in fine root traits within and among species along a fine-scale hydrological gradient.

Abstract：

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:Lessons from above-ground trait ecology and resource economics theory may not be directly translatable to below-ground traits due to differences in function, trade-offs and environmental constraints. Here we examine root functional traits within and across species along a fine-scale hydrological gradient. We ask two related questions: (1) what is the relative magnitude of trait variation across the gradient for within- versus among- species variation? And (2) do correlations among below-ground plant traits conform with predictions from resource-economic spectrum theory? METHODS:We sampled four below-ground, fine-root traits (specific root length, branching intensity, root tissue density and root dry matter content) and four above-ground traits (specific leaf area, leaf size, plant height and leaf dry matter content) in vascular plants along a fine-scale hydrological gradient within a wet healthland community in southeastern Australia. Below-ground and above-ground traits were sampled both within and among species. KEY RESULTS:Root traits shifted both within and among species across the hydrological gradient. Within and among-species patterns for root tissue density showed similar declines toward the wetter end of the gradient. Other root traits showed a variety of patterns with respect to within and among species variation. Filtering of species has a stronger effect compared to the average within-species shift: the slopes of the relationships between soil moisture and traits were steeper across species than slopes of within species. Between species, below-ground traits were only weakly linked to each other and to above-ground traits, but these weak links did in some cases correspond with predictions from economic theory. CONCLUSIONS:One of the challenges of research on root traits has been considerable intraspecific variation. Here we show that part of intraspecific root trait variation is structured by a fine-scale hydrological gradient, and that the variation aligns with among-species trends in some cases. Patterns in root tissue density are especially intriguing and may play an important role in species and individual response to moisture conditions. Given the importance of roots in the uptake of resources, and in carbon and nutrient turnover, it is vital that we establish patterns of root trait variation across environmental gradients.

journal_name

Ann Bot

journal_title

Annals of botany

authors

Taseski GM,Keith DA,Dalrymple RL,Cornwell WK

doi

10.1093/aob/mcaa175

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2020-09-23 00:00:00

eissn

0305-7364

issn

1095-8290

pii

5910541

pub_type

杂志文章

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Shifts in fine root traits within and among species along a fine-scale hydrological gradient.