Adaptive root foraging strategies along a boreal-temperate forest gradient
Language English Country Great Britain, England Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article
PubMed
28586137
DOI
10.1111/nph.14643
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- Keywords
- boreal and temperate forests, climate gradient, ectomycorrhizal (EcM) mycelium, fine and ectomycorrhizal root biomass, root foraging, root morphology, soil C : N ratio, soil and rhizosphere bacteria,
- MeSH
- Bacteria metabolism MeSH
- Models, Biological MeSH
- Biomass MeSH
- Betula microbiology MeSH
- Nitrogen analysis MeSH
- Adaptation, Physiological * MeSH
- Plant Roots anatomy & histology microbiology physiology MeSH
- Mycelium physiology MeSH
- Mycorrhizae physiology MeSH
- Soil Microbiology MeSH
- Rhizosphere MeSH
- Taiga * MeSH
- Carbon analysis MeSH
- Geography MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Europe MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Nitrogen MeSH
- Carbon MeSH
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
Global Change Research Institute Ceské Budejovice 370 05 Czech Republic
Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu 46 Vanemuise Tartu 51014 Estonia
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
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