Conifer proportion explains fine root biomass more than tree species diversity and site factors in major European forest types

Finér, Leena; Domisch, Timo; Dawud, Seid Muhie; Raulund‐Rasmussen, Karsten; Vesterdal, Lars; Bouriaud, Olivier; Bruelheide, Helge; Jaroszewicz, Bogdan; Selvi, Federico; Valladares, Fernando

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2017.09.017

Cited by 38 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 75 publications

(125 reference statements)

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“…On the other hand tree species composition and diversity influence soil carbon balance in various ways. Speciesspecific properties in rooting patterns (Finér et al, 2017), litter-chemistry (Vesterdal et al, 2008) and tree architecture (Joly et al, 2017) influence litter input, litter decomposition and carbon stabilisation (Schleuß et al, 2014). Species diversity may lead to increased ecosystem productivity by niche partitioning, which increase litter input, e.g.…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing soil inventory with modelling: Carbon balance in central European forest soils varies among forest types

Ziche

Grüneberg

Hilbrig

et al. 2019

Science of The Total Environment

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Forest soils represent a large carbon pool and already small changes in this pool may have an important effect on the global carbon cycle. To predict the future development of the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool, well-validated models are needed. We applied the litter and soil carbon model Yasso15 to 1838 plots of the German national forest soil inventory (NFSI) for the period between 1985 and 2014 to enables a direct comparison to the NFSI measurements. In addition, to provide data for the German Greenhouse Gas Inventory, we simulated the development of SOC with Yasso15 applying a climate projection based on the RCP8.5 scenario. The initial model-calculated SOC stocks were adjusted to the measured ones in the NFSI. On average, there were no significant differences between the simulated SOC changes (0.25 ± 0.10 Mg C ha a) and the NFSI data (0.39 ± 0.11 Mg C ha a). Comparing regional soil-unit-specific aggregates of the SOC changes, the correlation between both methods was significant (r = 0.49) although the NFSI values had a wider range and more negative values. In the majority of forest types, representing 75% of plots, both methods produced similar estimates of the SOC balance. Opposite trends were found in mountainous coniferous forests on acidic soils. These soils had lost carbon according to the NFSI (-0.89 ± 0.30 Mg C ha a) whereas they had gained it according to Yasso15 (0.21 ± 0.10 Mg C ha a). In oligotrophic pine forests, the NFSI indicated high SOC gains (1.36 ± 0.17 Mg C ha a) and Yasso15 much smaller (0.29 ± 0.10 Mg C ha a). According to our results, German forest soils are a large carbon sink. The application of the Yasso15 model supports the results of the NFSI. The sink strength differs between forest types possibly because of differences in organic matter stabilisation.

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Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing soil inventory with modelling: Carbon balance in central European forest soils varies among forest types

Ziche

Grüneberg

Hilbrig

et al. 2019

Science of The Total Environment

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“…(c) Carbon fractions are now known to vary with species and root diameter (Jackson et al, ; Thomas & Martin, ). (d) Species composition plays a major role in fine root biomass and production (Finér et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving models of fine root carbon stocks and fluxes in European forests

et al. 2020

Self Cite

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Fine roots and above‐ground litterfall play a pivotal role in carbon dynamics in forests. Nonetheless, direct estimation of stocks of fine roots remains methodologically challenging. Models are thus widely used to estimate these stocks and help elucidate drivers of fine root growth and turnover, at a range of scales. We updated a database of fine root biomass, necromass and production derived from 454 plots across European forests. We then compared fine root biomass and production to estimates obtained from 19 different models. Typical input variables used for the models included climate, net primary production, foliage and above‐ground biomass, leaf area index (LAI), latitude and/or land cover type. We tested whether performance could be improved by fitting new multiple regression models, and explored effects of species composition and sampling method on estimated fine root biomass. Average fine root biomass was 332 g/m2, and necromass 379 g/m2, for European forests where the average fine root production was 250 g m−2 year−1. Carbon fraction in fine roots averaged 48.4%, and was 1.5% greater in broadleaved species than conifers. Available models were poor predictors of fine root biomass and production. The best performing models assumed proportionality between above‐ and below‐ground compartments, and used remotely sensed LAI or foliage biomass as key inputs. Model performance was improved by use of multiple regressions, which revealed consistently greater biomass and production in stands dominated by broadleaved species as well as in mixed stands even after accounting for climatic differences. Synthesis. We assessed the potential of existing models to estimate fine root biomass and production in European forests. We show that recalibration reduces by about 40% errors in estimates currently produced by the best available models, and increases three‐fold explained variation. Our results underline the quantitative significance of fine roots (live and dead) to the global carbon cycle.

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“…For example, (1) the biomass of herbs and grasses can account for nearly 50% of the total biomass of forests [19], but we do not know if the anatomical pattern of these plants is similar to that of woody plants. (2) The variations among different woody plants in the same ecosystem are also unclear because most studies are conducted in forestry stands, which are typically monocultures [20, 21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anatomical structures of fine roots of 91 vascular plant species from four groups in a temperate forest in Northeast China

Wang¹,

Wang²,

Dong³

2019

PLoS ONE

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Fine roots of plants play an important role in terrestrial ecosystems. There is a close association between the anatomical characteristics and physiological and ecological functions of plants, but we still have a very limited knowledge of anatomical traits. For example, (1) we do not know if herbs and grasses have anatomical patterns similar to those of woody plants, and (2) the variation among different woody plants in the same ecosystem is unclear. In the present study, we analysed the anatomical structures of the fine root systems of various groups of vascular plants (ferns, eudicot herbs, monocots and woody plants) from the same ecosystem (a natural secondary forest on Mao'er Mountain, Heilongjiang, China) to answer the following questions: (1) How does the anatomy of the fine roots change with root order in various plant groups in the same ecosystem? (2) What is the pattern of variation within group? The results show that anatomical traits can be divided into 3 categories: traits that indicate the root capacity to transport resource along the root (stele diameter, xylem cell diameter and xylem cell area); traits that indicate absorptive capacity cortical thickness, (the number of cortical cell layers and the diameter of cortical cells); and traits that are integrated indicators (diameter and the stele to root diameter ratio). The traits indicate the root capacity to transport resource along the root order is generally similar among groups, but absorptive capacity is very different. The shift in function is the main factor influencing the fine root anatomy. Some traits show large variation within groups, but the variations in other traits are small. The traits indicate that the lower-order roots (absorbing roots) in distinct groups are of the first one or two root order in ferns, the first two or three orders in eudicot herbs, the first (only two root orders) or first two orders (more than three root orders) in monocots and the first four or five root orders in woody plants and the other roots are higher-order roots (transport roots). The result will helpful to understand the similarities and differences among groups and the physiological and ecological functions of plant roots.

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Conifer proportion explains fine root biomass more than tree species diversity and site factors in major European forest types

Cited by 38 publications

References 75 publications

Comparing soil inventory with modelling: Carbon balance in central European forest soils varies among forest types

Comparing soil inventory with modelling: Carbon balance in central European forest soils varies among forest types

Improving models of fine root carbon stocks and fluxes in European forests

Anatomical structures of fine roots of 91 vascular plant species from four groups in a temperate forest in Northeast China

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