The tree root-mycorhizosphere plays a key role in resource uptake, but also in the adaptation of forests to changing environments. The adaptive foraging mechanisms of ectomycorrhizal (EcM) and fine roots of Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris and Betula pendula were evaluated along a gradient from temperate to subarctic boreal forest (38 sites between latitudes 48°N and 69°N) in Europe. Variables describing tree resource uptake structures and processes (absorptive fine root biomass and morphology, nitrogen (N) concentration in absorptive roots, extramatrical mycelium (EMM) biomass, community structure of root-associated EcM fungi, soil and rhizosphere bacteria) were used to analyse relationships between root system functional traits and climate, soil and stand characteristics. Absorptive fine root biomass per stand basal area increased significantly from temperate to boreal forests, coinciding with longer and thinner root tips with higher tissue density, smaller EMM biomass per root length and a shift in soil microbial community structure. The soil carbon (C) : N ratio was found to explain most of the variability in absorptive fine root and EMM biomass, root tissue density, N concentration and rhizosphere bacterial community structure. We suggest a concept of absorptive fine root foraging strategies involving both qualitative and quantitative changes in the root-mycorrhiza-bacteria continuum along climate and soil C : N gradients.

Centre for Ecosystem Society and Biosecurity Forest Research Farnham GU10 4LH UK

Department of Forest Sciences University of Helsinki Helsinki 00014 Finland

Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Prague 165 00 Czech Republic

Global Change Research Institute Ceské Budejovice 370 05 Czech Republic

Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu 46 Vanemuise Tartu 51014 Estonia

Institute of Forest Ecology University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences BOKU 1190 Vienna Austria

Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 Tartu 51014 Estonia

Institute of Forestry Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Liepų str 1 Kaunas District LT 53101 Girionys Lithuania

Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden University of Tartu 14a Ravila Tartu 50411 Estonia

Natural Resources Institute Finland Helsinki 00790 Finland

Natural Resources Institute Finland Luke c o Aalto yliopisto PL 16200 00076 Aalto Finland

Natural Resources Institute Finland Oulu 90570 Finland

School of Agriculture Policy and Development University of Reading Reading RG6 6AR UK

Soil Ecology University of Bayreuth Dr Hans Frisch Straße 1 3 D 95448 Bayreuth Germany

Citace poskytuje Crossref.org

KEYLINK: towards a more integrative soil representation for inclusion in ecosystem scale models. I. review and model concept

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UDB007441, UDB007552, UDB008560, UDB008655, UDB008727, UDB008766