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Manu R, Veldkamp E, Eryenyu D, Corre MD, van Straaten O. Nitrogen and potassium limit fine root growth in a humid Afrotropical forest. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13154. [PMID: 38849444 PMCID: PMC11161472 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63684-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Nutrient limitations play a key regulatory role in plant growth, thereby affecting ecosystem productivity and carbon uptake. Experimental observations identifying the most limiting nutrients are lacking, particularly in Afrotropical forests. We conducted an ecosystem-scale, full factorial nitrogen (N)-phosphorus (P)-potassium (K) addition experiment consisting 32 40 × 40 m plots (eight treatments × four replicates) in Uganda to investigate which (if any) nutrient limits fine root growth. After two years of observations, added N rapidly decreased fine root biomass by up to 36% in the first and second years of the experiment. Added K decreased fine root biomass by 27% and fine root production by 30% in the second year. These rapid reductions in fine root growth highlight a scaled-back carbon investment in the costly maintenance of large fine root network as N and K limitations become alleviated. No fine root growth response to P addition was observed. Fine root turnover rate was not significantly affected by nutrient additions but tended to be higher in N added than non-N added treatments. These results suggest that N and K availability may restrict the ecosystem's capacity for CO2 assimilation, with implications for ecosystem productivity and resilience to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Manu
- Department of Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Edzo Veldkamp
- Department of Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - David Eryenyu
- Budongo Conservation Field Station, Masindi, Uganda
- Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (Edinburgh Zoo), Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Marife D Corre
- Department of Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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2
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Schulz G, Camenzind T, Sánchez-Galindo LM, Schneider D, Scheu S, Krashevska V. Response of protists to nitrogen addition, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi manipulation, and mesofauna reduction in a tropical montane rainforest in southern Ecuador. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2023; 70:e12996. [PMID: 37577763 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The tropical Andes are a species-rich and nitrogen-limited system, susceptible to increased nitrogen (N) inputs from the atmosphere. However, our understanding of the impacts of increased N input on belowground systems, in particular on protists and their role in nutrient cycling, remains limited. We explored how increased N affects protists in tropical montane rainforests in Ecuador using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of environmental DNA from two litter layers. In addition, we manipulated the amount of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and mesofauna, both playing a significant role in N cycling and interacting in complex ways with protist communities. We found that N strongly affected protist community composition in both layers, while mesofauna reduction had a stronger effect on the lower layer. Changes in concentration of the AMF marker lipid had little effect on protists. In both layers, the addition of N increased phagotrophs and animal parasites and decreased plant parasites, while mixotrophs decreased in the upper layer but increased in the lower layer. In the upper layer with higher AMF concentration, mixotrophs decreased, while in the lower layer, photoautotrophs increased and plant parasites decreased. With reduced mesofauna, phagotrophs increased and animal parasites decreased in both layers, while plant parasites increased only in the upper layer. The findings indicate that to understand the intricate response of protist communities to environmental changes, it is critical to thoroughly analyze these communities across litter and soil layers, and to include HTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garvin Schulz
- Johann Friedrich Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tessa Camenzind
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Laura M Sánchez-Galindo
- Johann Friedrich Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dominik Schneider
- Genomic and Applied Microbiology and Goettingen Genomics Laboratory, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Scheu
- Johann Friedrich Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Valentyna Krashevska
- Johann Friedrich Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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3
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Ramírez BH, Cortés‐B R, Pinzón OP, Gómez L, Jacquin S, Hernández E, Quimbayo LA, Bogotá‐A RG. Cloud forests of the Orinoco River Basin (Colombia): Variation in vegetation and soil macrofauna composition along the hydrometeorological gradient. Biotropica 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz H. Ramírez
- Maestría en Manejo, Uso y Conservación del Bosque Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas ‐UDFJC Bogotá Colombia
- Centro de Estudios Ambientales de la Orinoquia ‐CEAO ABC Colombia Yopal Colombia
| | - Rocío Cortés‐B
- Maestría en Manejo, Uso y Conservación del Bosque Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas ‐UDFJC Bogotá Colombia
- Ingeniería Forestal Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas ‐UDFJC Bogotá Colombia
| | - Olga Patricia Pinzón
- Maestría en Manejo, Uso y Conservación del Bosque Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas ‐UDFJC Bogotá Colombia
- Ingeniería Forestal Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas ‐UDFJC Bogotá Colombia
| | - Laura Gómez
- Ingeniería Forestal Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas ‐UDFJC Bogotá Colombia
| | - Santiago Jacquin
- Ingeniería Forestal Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas ‐UDFJC Bogotá Colombia
| | - Eduardo Hernández
- Ingeniería Forestal Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas ‐UDFJC Bogotá Colombia
| | - Luz Angélica Quimbayo
- Ingeniería Forestal Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas ‐UDFJC Bogotá Colombia
| | - Raúl Giovanni Bogotá‐A
- Maestría en Manejo, Uso y Conservación del Bosque Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas ‐UDFJC Bogotá Colombia
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4
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Wu S, Wang R, Zhu H, Wang Y, Du Y, Zhu S, Zhao N. Changes in root chemical diversity along an elevation gradient of Changbai Mountain, China. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:897838. [PMID: 36420024 PMCID: PMC9676470 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.897838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Root chemical traits play a critical role in plant resource use strategies and ecosystem nutrient cycling; however, the chemical diversity of multiple elements of fine root and community chemical assembly belowground are poorly understood. Here, we measured 13 elements (C, N, K, Ca, Mg, S, P, Al, Fe, Na, Mn, Zn, and Cu) in the fine roots of 204 plant species along elevational transect from 540 to 2357 m of Changbai Mountain, China to explore the variation, diversity, and community assembly of root chemical traits. At the species level, the concentrations of macronutrients (N, K, Ca, Mg, S, and P) decreased, whereas the trace metals (Fe, Mn, and Zn) increased with elevation. Root chemical traits at the community level systematically shifted along elevational gradients showing a pattern similar to that at the species level, which were mainly influenced by climate and soil rather than species diversity. In general, the interactions of climate and soil were the main drivers of root chemical assembly for woody layers, whereas soil factors played significant role for root chemical assembly for herb layer. The chemical assembly of rock-derived element P was mainly driven by soil factors. Meanwhile, root chemical diversities were mainly regulated by species diversity, the interactions of climate and soil, and soil factors in the tree, shrub, and herb layers, respectively. A better understanding of plant root chemical diversity and community chemical assembly will help to reveal the role of chemical traits in ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihua Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ruili Wang
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Haihua Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yanyan Du
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Sihao Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ning Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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5
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Pierick K, Link RM, Leuschner C, Homeier J. Elevational trends of tree fine root traits in species‐rich tropical Andean forests. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Pierick
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, Univ. of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Roman M. Link
- Ecophysiology and Vegetation Ecology, Julius‐von‐Sachs‐Inst. of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Christoph Leuschner
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, Univ. of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
- Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, Univ. of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Jürgen Homeier
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, Univ. of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
- Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, Univ. of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
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6
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Manu R, Corre MD, Aleeje A, Mwanjalolo MJG, Babweteera F, Veldkamp E, van Straaten O. Responses of tree growth and biomass production to nutrient addition in a semi-deciduous tropical forest in Africa. Ecology 2022; 103:e3659. [PMID: 35129838 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Experimental evidence of nutrient limitations on primary productivity in Afrotropical forests is rare and globally underrepresented, yet are crucial for understanding constraints to terrestrial carbon uptake. In an ecosystem-scale nutrient manipulation experiment, we assessed the early responses of tree growth rates among different tree sizes, taxonomic species and at a community level in a humid tropical forest in Uganda. Following a full factorial design, we established 32 (eight treatments × four replicates) experimental plots of 40 m × 40 m each. We added nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), their combinations (NP, NK, PK, and NPK) and control at the rates of 125 kg N.ha-1 .yr-1 , 50 kg P.ha-1 .yr-1 and 50 kg K.ha-1 .yr-1 , split into four equal applications, and measured stem growth of more than 15,000 trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 1 cm. After two years, the response of tree stem growth to nutrient additions was dependent on tree sizes, species and leaf habit but not community-wide. First, tree stem growth increased under N additions, primarily among medium-sized trees (10-30 cm DBH), and in trees of Lasiodiscus mildbraedii in the second year of the experiment. Second, K limitation was evident in semi-deciduous trees, which increased stem growth by 46% in +K than -K treatments, following a strong, prolonged dry season during the first year of the experiment. This highlights the key role of K in stomatal regulation and maintenance of water balance in trees, particularly under water-stressed conditions. Third, the role of P in promoting tree growth and carbon accumulation rates in this forest on highly weathered soils was rather not pronounced; nonetheless, mortality among saplings (1-5 cm DBH) was reduced by 30% in +P than in -P treatments. Although stem growth responses to nutrient interaction effects were positive or negative (likely depending on nutrient combinations and climate variability), our results underscore the fact that, in a highly diverse forest ecosystem, multiple nutrients and not one single nutrient regulate tree growth and aboveground carbon uptake due to varying nutrient requirements and acquisition strategies of different tree sizes, species and leaf habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Manu
- Department of Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems, Georg-August University of Goettingen, Buesgenweg 2, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Marife D Corre
- Department of Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems, Georg-August University of Goettingen, Buesgenweg 2, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Alfred Aleeje
- Department of Agricultural Production, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Majaliwa J G Mwanjalolo
- Department of Geography, Geo-informatics and Climate Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.,Regional FORUM for capacity building in Agriculture-RUFORUM, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Fred Babweteera
- Department of Forestry, Biodiversity and Tourism, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.,Budongo Conservation Field Station, P.O. Box 362, Masindi, Uganda
| | - Edzo Veldkamp
- Department of Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems, Georg-August University of Goettingen, Buesgenweg 2, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Oliver van Straaten
- Department of Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems, Georg-August University of Goettingen, Buesgenweg 2, 37077, Goettingen, Germany.,Johann Heinrich von Thuenen Institute, Institute for Forest Ecosystems, Alfred-Möller-Straße 1, Eberswalde, Germany
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7
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Onipchenko VG, Gulov DM, Ishbirdin AR, Makarov MI, Akhmetzhanova AA, Logvinenko OA, Khubieva OP, Tekeev DK, Elumeeva TG. Analysis of Fine Root Production Features in High Mountain Communities by Ingrowth Method using Filter Balls. CONTEMP PROBL ECOL+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1995425521050085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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8
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Huaraca Huasco W, Riutta T, Girardin CAJ, Hancco Pacha F, Puma Vilca BL, Moore S, Rifai SW, Del Aguila-Pasquel J, Araujo Murakami A, Freitag R, Morel AC, Demissie S, Doughty CE, Oliveras I, Galiano Cabrera DF, Durand Baca L, Farfán Amézquita F, Silva Espejo JE, da Costa ACL, Oblitas Mendoza E, Quesada CA, Evouna Ondo F, Edzang Ndong J, Jeffery KJ, Mihindou V, White LJT, N'ssi Bengone N, Ibrahim F, Addo-Danso SD, Duah-Gyamfi A, Djaney Djagbletey G, Owusu-Afriyie K, Amissah L, Mbou AT, Marthews TR, Metcalfe DB, Aragão LEO, Marimon-Junior BH, Marimon BS, Majalap N, Adu-Bredu S, Abernethy KA, Silman M, Ewers RM, Meir P, Malhi Y. Fine root dynamics across pantropical rainforest ecosystems. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:3657-3680. [PMID: 33982340 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Huaraca Huasco
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Terhi Riutta
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Cécile A J Girardin
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | - Sam Moore
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sami W Rifai
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Alejandro Araujo Murakami
- Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado Universidad Autónoma Gabriel Rene Moreno, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
| | - Renata Freitag
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Nova Xavantina, MT, Brazil
| | - Alexandra C Morel
- Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | | | - Christopher E Doughty
- School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Imma Oliveras
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vianet Mihindou
- Ministère de la Foret, de la Mer, de l'Environnement, Chargé Du Plan Climat, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Lee J T White
- Ministère de la Foret, de la Mer, de l'Environnement, Chargé Du Plan Climat, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Natacha N'ssi Bengone
- Ministère de la Foret, de la Mer, de l'Environnement, Chargé Du Plan Climat, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Forzia Ibrahim
- Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, University, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Shalom D Addo-Danso
- Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, University, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Akwasi Duah-Gyamfi
- Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, University, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Gloria Djaney Djagbletey
- Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, University, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Kennedy Owusu-Afriyie
- Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, University, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Lucy Amissah
- Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, University, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Armel T Mbou
- Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Leece, Italy
| | | | - Daniel B Metcalfe
- Department of Ecology and Environment Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Luiz E O Aragão
- Divisão de Sensoriamento Remoto-DIDSR, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, São Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Ben H Marimon-Junior
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Nova Xavantina, MT, Brazil
| | - Beatriz S Marimon
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Nova Xavantina, MT, Brazil
| | - Noreen Majalap
- Sabah Forestry Department, Forest Research Centre, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Stephen Adu-Bredu
- Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, University, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Miles Silman
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Robert M Ewers
- Department of Life Science, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK
| | - Patrick Meir
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Yadvinder Malhi
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Chen L, Jiang C, Wang X, Feng Q, Liu X, Tang Z, Sun OJ. Nutrient trade-offs mediated by ectomycorrhizal strategies in plants: Evidence from an Abies species in subalpine forests. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5281-5294. [PMID: 34026006 PMCID: PMC8131813 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis is an evolutionary biological trait of higher plants for effective nutrient uptakes. However, little is known that how the formation and morphological differentiations of ECM roots mediate the nutrients of below- and aboveground plant tissues and the balance among nutrient elements across environmental gradients. Here, we investigated the effects of ECM foraging strategies on root and foliar N and P concentrations and N:P ratio Abies faxoniana under variations of climate and soil conditions.The ECM symbionts preferentially mediated P uptake under both N and P limitations. The uptake efficiency of N and P was primarily associated with the ECM root traits, for example, ECM root tip density, superficial area of ECM root tips, and the ratio of living to dead root tips, and was affected by the ECM proliferations and morphological differentiations. The tissue N and P concentrations were positively associated with the abundance of the contact exploration type and negatively with that of the short-distance exploration type.Our findings indicate that the nutritional status of both below- and aboveground plant tissues can be strongly affected by ECM symbiosis in natural environments. Variations in the ECM strategies in response to varying environmental conditions significantly influence plant nutrient uptakes and trade-offs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Chen
- School of Ecology and Nature ConservationBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
- Institute of Forestry and Climate Change ResearchBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Chao Jiang
- School of Ecology and Nature ConservationBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
- Institute of Forestry and Climate Change ResearchBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xiangping Wang
- School of Ecology and Nature ConservationBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
- Institute of Forestry and Climate Change ResearchBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Qiuhong Feng
- Sichuan Wolong Forest Ecosystem Research StationSichuan Academy of ForestryChengduChina
- Ecological Restoration and Conservation on Forest and Wetland Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan Academy of ForestryChengduChina
| | - Xingliang Liu
- Sichuan Wolong Forest Ecosystem Research StationSichuan Academy of ForestryChengduChina
- Ecological Restoration and Conservation on Forest and Wetland Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan Academy of ForestryChengduChina
| | - Zuoxin Tang
- College of Agricultural and Life SciencesKunming UniversityKunmingChina
| | - Osbert Jianxin Sun
- School of Ecology and Nature ConservationBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
- Institute of Forestry and Climate Change ResearchBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
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10
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Climate implications on forest above- and belowground carbon allocation patterns along a tropical elevation gradient on Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania). Oecologia 2021; 195:797-812. [PMID: 33630169 PMCID: PMC7940314 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04860-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Tropical forests represent the largest store of terrestrial biomass carbon (C) on earth and contribute over-proportionally to global terrestrial net primary productivity (NPP). How climate change is affecting NPP and C allocation to tree components in forests is not well understood. This is true for tropical forests, but particularly for African tropical forests. Studying forest ecosystems along elevation and related temperature and moisture gradients is one possible approach to address this question. However, the inclusion of belowground productivity data in such studies is scarce. On Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), we studied aboveground (wood increment, litter fall) and belowground (fine and coarse root) NPP along three elevation transects (c. 1800–3900 m a.s.l.) across four tropical montane forest types to derive C allocation to the major tree components. Total NPP declined continuously with elevation from 8.5 to 2.8 Mg C ha−1 year−1 due to significant decline in aboveground NPP, while fine root productivity (sequential coring approach) remained unvaried with around 2 Mg C ha−1 year−1, indicating a marked shift in C allocation to belowground components with elevation. The C and N fluxes to the soil via root litter were far more important than leaf litter inputs in the subalpine Erica forest. Thus, the shift of C allocation to belowground organs with elevation at Mt. Kilimanjaro and other tropical forests suggests increasing nitrogen limitation of aboveground tree growth at higher elevations. Our results show that studying fine root productivity is crucial to understand climate effects on the carbon cycle in tropical forests.
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11
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Umaña MN, Arellano G, Swenson NG, Zambrano J. Tree seedling trait optimization and growth in response to local-scale soil and light variability. Ecology 2021; 102:e03252. [PMID: 33219522 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
At local scales, it has been suggested that high levels of resources lead to increased tree growth via trait optimization (highly peaked trait distribution). However, this contrasts with (1) theories that suggest that trait optimization and high growth occur in the most common resource level and (2) empirical evidence showing that high trait optimization can be also found at low resource levels. This raises the question of how are traits and growth optimized in highly diverse plant communities. Here, we propose a series of hypotheses about how traits and growth are expected to be maximized under different resource levels (low, the most common, and high) in tree seedling communities from a subtropical forest in Puerto Rico, USA. We studied the variation in the distribution of biomass allocation and leaf traits and seedlings growth rate along four resource gradients: light availability (canopy openness) and soil K, Mg, and N content. Our analyses consisted of comparing trait kurtosis (a measurement of trait optimization), community trait means, and relative growth rates at three resource levels (low, common, and high). Trait optimization varied across the three resource levels depending on the type of resource and trait, with leaf traits being optimized under high N and in the most common K and Mg conditions, but not at any of the light levels. Also, seedling growth increased at high-light conditions and high N and K but was not related to trait kurtosis. Our results indicate that local-scale variability of soil fertility and understory light conditions result in shifts in species ecological strategies that increase growth despite a weak trait optimization, suggesting the existence of alternative phenotypes that achieve similar high performance. Uncovering the links between abiotic factors, functional trait diversity and performance is necessary to better predict tree responses to future changes in abiotic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Natalia Umaña
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Gabriel Arellano
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Nathan G Swenson
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742, USA
| | - Jenny Zambrano
- The School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164, USA
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12
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Dueñas JF, Camenzind T, Roy J, Hempel S, Homeier J, Suárez JP, Rillig MC. Moderate phosphorus additions consistently affect community composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in tropical montane forests in southern Ecuador. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 227:1505-1518. [PMID: 32368801 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic atmospheric deposition can increase nutrient supply in the most remote ecosystems, potentially affecting soil biodiversity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities rapidly respond to simulated soil eutrophication in tropical forests. Yet the limited spatio-temporal extent of such manipulations, together with the often unrealistically high fertilization rates employed, impedes generalization of such responses. We sequenced mixed root AMF communities within a seven year-long fully factorial nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) addition experiment, replicated at three tropical montane forests in southern Ecuador with differing environmental characteristics. We hypothesized: strong shifts in community composition and species richness after long-term fertilization, site- and clade-specific responses to N vs P additions depending on local soil fertility and clade life history traits respectively. Fertilization consistently shifted AMF community composition across sites, but only reduced richness of Glomeraceae. Compositional changes were mainly driven by increases in P supply while richness reductions were observed only after combined N and P additions. We conclude that moderate increases of N and P exert a mild but consistent effect on tropical AMF communities. To predict the consequences of these shifts, current results need to be supplemented with experiments that characterize local species-specific AMF functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan F Dueñas
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, Berlin, 14195, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Tessa Camenzind
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, Berlin, 14195, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Julien Roy
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, Berlin, 14195, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Stefan Hempel
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, Berlin, 14195, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Jürgen Homeier
- Plant Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37073, Germany
| | - Juan Pablo Suárez
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Loja, Ecuador
| | - Matthias C Rillig
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, Berlin, 14195, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, 14195, Germany
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13
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Camenzind T, Scheu S, Rillig MC. Expanding the toolbox of nutrient limitation studies: A novel method of soil microbial in‐growth bags to evaluate nutrient demands in tropical forests. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Camenzind
- Institute of Biology, Plant Ecology Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) Berlin Germany
| | - Stefan Scheu
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, Animal Ecology University of Göttingen Göttingen Germany
- Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use University of Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Matthias C. Rillig
- Institute of Biology, Plant Ecology Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) Berlin Germany
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Cárate-Tandalla D, Camenzind T, Leuschner C, Homeier J. Contrasting species responses to continued nitrogen and phosphorus addition in tropical montane forest tree seedlings. Biotropica 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daisy Cárate-Tandalla
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research; University of Goettingen; Untere Karspuele 2 37073 Goettingen Germany
| | - Tessa Camenzind
- Plant Ecology; Institute of Biology; Freie Universität Berlin; Altensteinstraβe 6 14195 Berlin Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research; Berlin Germany
| | - Christoph Leuschner
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research; University of Goettingen; Untere Karspuele 2 37073 Goettingen Germany
| | - Jürgen Homeier
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research; University of Goettingen; Untere Karspuele 2 37073 Goettingen Germany
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Okada KI, Aiba SI, Kitayama K. Influence of temperature and soil nitrogen and phosphorus availabilities on fine-root productivity in tropical rainforests on Mount Kinabalu, Borneo. Ecol Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s11284-016-1425-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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16
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Sullivan BW, Alvarez-Clare S, Castle SC, Porder S, Reed SC, Schreeg L, Townsend AR, Cleveland CC. Assessing nutrient limitation in complex forested ecosystems: alternatives to large-scale fertilization experiments. Ecology 2014; 95:668-81. [DOI: 10.1890/13-0825.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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