Root Systems of Some Chaparral Plants in Southern California

Hellmers, Henry; Horton, Jerome S.; Juhren, G.; O’Keefe, James P.

doi:10.2307/1931305

Cited by 212 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(3 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In addition, thicker roots increase the ability to penetrate into dry tough soils (Goss 1977) and the thick main axis of resprouters could allow them to reach deeper soil layers (see examples for adults in Hellmers et al 1955 andBell et al 1996). However, our seedlings of R+ species showed thicker main axis, but similar rooting depth than R-species (see also Frazer andDavis 1988, andPratt et al 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Root traits explain different foraging strategies between resprouting life histories

Paula

Pausas

2010

Oecologia

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Drought and fire are prevalent disturbances in Mediterranean ecosystems. Plant species able to regrow after severe disturbances (i.e. resprouter life history) have higher allocation to roots and higher water potential during the dry season than coexisting non-resprouting species. However, seedlings of non-resprouters have higher survival rate after summer drought. We predict that, to counteract their shallow-rooting systems and to maximize seedling survival, non-resprouters have root traits that confer higher efficiency in soil resource acquisition than resprouters. We tested this prediction in seedlings of less than 1.5 months old. We select 13 coexisting woody species (including both resprouters and non-resprouters), grew them in common garden and measured the following root traits: length, surface, average diameter, root tissue density (RTD), specific root length (SRL), surface:volume ratio (SVR), specific tip density (STD), tip distribution in depth, internal links ratio (ILR) and degree of branching. These root traits were compared between the two resprouting life histories using both standard cross-species and phylogenetic-informed analysis. Non-resprouters showed higher SRL and longer, thinner and more branched laterals, especially in the upper soil layers. The abundance, total length, diameter and SVR of external links (i.e. the most absorptive root region) were also higher for non-resprouters. The results were supported by the phylogenetic-informed analysis for the root traits most strongly related to soil resource acquisition (SRL, SVR and branching pattern). The seedling root structure of non-resprouters species allows them to explore more efficiently the upper soil layer, whereas seedling roots of resprouters will permit both carbon storage and deep soil penetration.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Root traits explain different foraging strategies between resprouting life histories

Paula

Pausas

2010

Oecologia

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Among chaparral species, ADFA had less extreme declines in RGVF over 2013 and 2014 compared to CECU, CEME, and CESP. ADFA has been found to be more deeply rooted than Ceanothus species [48]. While Ceanothus species may have a higher cavitation resistance than ADFA [14], this did not prevent widespread dieback of Ceanothus species and corresponding declines in RGVF.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Monitoring the Impacts of Severe Drought on Southern California Chaparral Species using Hyperspectral and Thermal Infrared Imagery

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Airborne hyperspectral and thermal infrared imagery acquired in 2013 and 2014, the second and third years of a severe drought in California, were used to assess drought impacts on dominant plant species. A relative green vegetation fraction (RGVF) calculated from 2013-2014 Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data using linear spectral unmixing revealed seasonal and multi-year changes relative to a pre-drought 2011 reference AVIRIS image. Deeply rooted tree species and tree species found in mesic areas showed the least change in RGVF. Coastal sage scrub species demonstrated the highest seasonal variability, as well as a longer-term decline in RGVF. Ceanothus species were apparently least well-adapted to long-term drought among chaparral species, showing persistent declines in RGVF over 2013 and 2014. Declining RGVF was associated with higher land surface temperature retrieved from MODIS-ASTER Airborne Simulator (MASTER) data. Combined collection of hyperspectral and thermal infrared imagery may offer new opportunities for mapping and monitoring drought impacts on ecosystems.

show abstract

“…However, where soils are shallow, the underlying substrate may contain roots, sometimes to many meters in depth, especially in upland areas (Hellmers et al, 1955;Scholl, 1976;Stone and Kalisz, 1991;Anderson et al, 1995;Canadell and Zedler, 1995;Jackson et al, 1999;Hubbert et al, 2001a;EgertonWarburton et al, 2003;Rose et al, 2003;Witty et al, 2003;Bornyasz et al, 2005;Graham et al, 2010;Roering et al, 2010;Estrada-Medina et al, 2013). Both fine, absorptive roots and larger framework roots have been found at tens of meters in depth beneath the land surface (Canadell et al, 1996;Jackson et al, 1999).…”

Section: Form Function and Distribution Of Tree Rootsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reviews and syntheses: on the roles trees play in building and plumbing the critical zone

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Trees, the most successful biological power plants on earth, build and plumb the critical zone (CZ) in ways that we do not yet understand. To encourage exploration of the character and implications of interactions between trees and soil in the CZ, we propose nine hypotheses that can be tested at diverse settings. The hypotheses are roughly divided into those about the architecture (building) and those about the water (plumbing) in the CZ, but the two functions are intertwined. Depending upon one's disciplinary background, many of the nine hypotheses listed below may appear obviously true or obviously false. (1) Tree roots can only physically penetrate and biogeochemically comminute the immobile substrate underlying mobile soil where that underlying substrate is fractured or pre-weathered. (2) In settings where the thickness of weathered material, H , is large, trees primarily shape the CZ through biogeochemical reactions within the rooting zone. (3) In forested uplands, the thickness of mobile soil, h, can evolve toward a steady state because of feedbacks related to root disruption and tree throw. (4) In settings where h H and the rates of uplift and erosion are low, the uptake of phosphorus into trees is buffered by the fine-grained fraction of the soil, and the ultimate source of this phosphorus is dust. (5) In settings of limited water availability, trees maintain the highest length density of functional roots at depths where water can be extracted over most of the growing season with the least amount of energy expenditure. (6) Trees grow the majority of their roots in the zone where the most growth-limiting resource is abundant, but they also grow roots at other depths to forage for other resources and to hydraulically redistribute those resources to depths where they can be taken up more efficiently. (7) Trees rely on matrix water in the unsaturated zone that at times may have anPublished by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. 5116 S. L. Brantley et al.: Reviews and syntheses: on the roles trees play in building and plumbing the critical zone isotopic composition distinct from the gravity-drained water that transits from the hillslope to groundwater and streamflow. (8) Mycorrhizal fungi can use matrix water directly, but trees can only use this water by accessing it indirectly through the fungi. (9) Even trees growing well above the valley floor of a catchment can directly affect stream chemistry where changes in permeability near the rooting zone promote intermittent zones of water saturation and downslope flow of water to the stream. By testing these nine hypotheses, we will generate important new cross-disciplinary insights that advance CZ science.

show abstract

Root Systems of Some Chaparral Plants in Southern California

Cited by 212 publications

References 8 publications

Root traits explain different foraging strategies between resprouting life histories

Root traits explain different foraging strategies between resprouting life histories

Monitoring the Impacts of Severe Drought on Southern California Chaparral Species using Hyperspectral and Thermal Infrared Imagery

Reviews and syntheses: on the roles trees play in building and plumbing the critical zone

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About