On the importance of root traits in seedlings of tropical tree species

Boonman, Coline C. F.; Langevelde, Frank van; Oliveras, Imma; Couédon, Jeremy; Luijken, Natascha; Martini, David; Veenendaal, E.M.

doi:10.1111/nph.16370

Cited by 47 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 68 publications

(85 reference statements)

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“…Deviation in biomass allocation at the species level from the general trend of pooled plants has been shown for species growing in environments with severe disturbance regimes. For instance, in humid savannas, species adapt to the frequent disturbances associated with strong fire regimes by allocating a greater proportion of biomass to roots (Boonman et al., 2020; Tomlinson et al., 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allometry rather than abiotic drivers explains biomass allocation among leaves, stems and roots of Artemisia across a large environmental gradient in China

et al. 2020

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Biomass allocation patterns reflect the adaptive strategies of plants growing in different environments, which is a central issue in comparative plant ecology and evolution. However, the factors underpinning specific allocation patterns across organs and the existence of general rules governing allocation remain contentious. Optimal partitioning theory (OPT) states that plants can respond to resource availability by allocating relatively more biomass to the organ that captures the most limiting resources to optimize growth. In contrast, allometric partitioning theory (APT) postulates that biomass allocation among organs is a power function of plant size independently of environmental variation. As phylogenetic and growth form constraints (e.g. formation of inert heartwood in tree clades) may also affect biomass allocation, comparison among and within closely related taxa of rather similar growth form may enable a more direct testing of which of these two theories prevails. To test whether OPT or APT was prevalent at wide geographical scale, we investigated biomass allocation patterns among leaves, stems and roots of 1,022 plants of 62 Artemisia species (Asteraceae) collected along broad climate (annual mean temperature range: −4.9 to 18.0°C, annual mean precipitation range: 193–1,668 mm) and soil gradients (soil carbon content range: 1.6–15.4 kg C m−2) in central and eastern China. There were strong allometric relationships among leaf mass (ML), stem mass (MS) and root mass (MR) at both interspecific and intraspecific levels. Moreover, the interspecific and intraspecific patterns were not different from general patterns for pooled plants, that is, ML/MR and ML/MS, but not MS/MR, generally decreased with plant size. However, the three organ mass ratios were not responsive to broad climatic or soil gradients after the effect of plant size was removed. Synthesis. Our results generally support APT instead of OPT, suggesting that Artemisia plants have evolved an allometric strategy rather than relying on adjustment of allocation among organs to adapt to the broadly varying environments at the regional scale. For follow‐up research, we hypothesize that the strong allometric constraints on biomass allocation should depend on strong physiological adaptive responses of the different organs of Artemisia to environmental gradients.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allometry rather than abiotic drivers explains biomass allocation among leaves, stems and roots of Artemisia across a large environmental gradient in China

et al. 2020

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“…F-species increase in dominance as canopy closure occurs (Figure 2b and 3). This is likely due to the selective pressure of fire for recruitment of forest tree seedlings with canopy closure (Armani et al 2018, Boonman et al 2019, Cardoso et al 2016, Issifu et al 2019.…”

Section: Vegetation Composition Versus Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Fixed or mixed? Variation in tree functional types and vegetation structure in a forest-savanna ecotone in West Africa

et al. 2020

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We analysed thirty-five 400-m2 plots encompassing forest, savanna and intermediate vegetation types in an ecotonal area in Ghana, West Africa. Across all plots, fire frequency was over a period of 15 years relatively uniform (once in 2–4 years). Although woodlands were dominated by species typically associated with savanna-type formations, and with forest formations dominated by species usually associated with closed canopies, these associations were non-obligatory and with a discrete non-specialized species grouping also identified. Across all plots, crown area index, stem basal area and above-ground biomass were positively associated with higher soil exchangeable potassium and silt contents: this supporting recent suggestions of interplays between potassium and soil water storage potential as a significant influence on tropical vegetation structure. We also found an average NDVI cover increase of ~0.15% year−1 (1984–2011) with plots dominated by non-specialized species increasing more than those dominated by either forest- or savanna-affiliated species. Our results challenge the traditional view of a simple forest vs. savanna dichotomy controlled by fire, and with our newly identified third non-specialized species grouping also potentially important in understanding ecotonal responses to climate change.

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“…Tree survival during drought has already been linked to storage content in seedlings of tropical trees (O’Brien et al ., 2014, 2020). Nevertheless, these links are not well understood in adult tropical trees, principally due to the following factors: first, the influence of other tree traits such as xylem vulnerability to embolism, rooting depth or wood density on plant survival (McDowell et al ., 2008; Johnson et al ., 2012; Rowland et al ., 2015; Boonman et al ., 2020; Borghetti et al ., 2020); and, second, lack of understanding of NSC storage regulation (Dickman et al ., 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Starch and lipid storage strategies in tropical trees relate to growth and mortality

et al. 2021

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Summary Non‐structural carbon (NSC) storage (i.e. starch, soluble sugras and lipids) in tree stems play important roles in metabolism and growth. Their spatial distribution in wood may explain species‐specific differences in carbon storage dynamics, growth and survival. However, quantitative information on the spatial distribution of starch and lipids in wood is sparse due to methodological limitations. Here we assessed differences in wood NSC and lipid storage between tropical tree species with different growth and mortality rates and contrasting functional types. We measured starch and soluble sugars in wood cores up to 4 cm deep into the stem using standard chemical quantification methods and histological slices stained with Lugol's iodine. We also detected neutral lipids using histological slices stained with Oil‐Red‐O. The histological method allowed us to group individuals into two categories according to their starch storage strategy: fiber‐storing trees and parenchyma‐storing trees. The first group had a bigger starch pool, slower growth and lower mortality rates than the second group. Lipid storage was found in wood parenchyma in five species and was related to low mortality rates. The quantification of the spatial distribution of starch and lipids in wood improves our understanding of NSC dynamics in trees and reveals additional dimensions of tree growth and survival strategies.

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On the importance of root traits in seedlings of tropical tree species

Cited by 47 publications

References 68 publications

Allometry rather than abiotic drivers explains biomass allocation among leaves, stems and roots of Artemisia across a large environmental gradient in China

Allometry rather than abiotic drivers explains biomass allocation among leaves, stems and roots of Artemisia across a large environmental gradient in China

Fixed or mixed? Variation in tree functional types and vegetation structure in a forest-savanna ecotone in West Africa

Starch and lipid storage strategies in tropical trees relate to growth and mortality

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