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. Mediterranean grasslands are highly seasonal andco-limited by water and nutrients. In such systems, little is known aboutroot dynamics which may depend on individual plant properties and environmentas well as seasonal water shortages and site fertility. Patterns of rootbiomass and activity are affectedby the presence of scattered trees, grazing, site management, and chronic nitrogen deposition, all ofwhich can affect nutrient ratios and potentially cause development of nitrogen : phosphorus (N : P) imbalances in ecosystem stoichiometry. In this study we combined observations from minirhizotrons with rootmeasurements from direct soil cores and ingrowth cores, along with measuresof above-ground biomass to investigate seasonal root dynamics and root : shootratios in a Mediterranean tree–grass “savanna”. We investigated responses tosoil fertility, using nutrient manipulation ( N∕NP addition) and spatialmicrohabitat treatments between open-pasture andmicrohabitats under the tree canopy.Root dynamics over time were also compared with indices of above-ground growth drawn from proximal remote sensing. Results show distinct differences in root dynamics and biomass betweentreatments and microhabitats. Root biomass was higher with N additions, butdid not differ from the control with NP additions in early spring. By the endof the growing season root biomass had increased with NP in open pastures butnot higher than N added alone. In contrast, root length density (RLD) inpastures responded stronger to the NP than N-only addition, while beneathtrees root biomass tended to be higher with only N. Even though root biomassincreased, the root : shoot ratio decreased under nutrient treatments. Timing ofroot and shoot growth was reasonably well paired, although in autumn rootgrowth appeared to be substantially slower than “regreening” of the system.We interpret these differences as a shift in community structure and/or roottraits under changing stoichiometry induced by the fertilization. We alsoconsider seasonal (phenology) differences in the strength and direction ofeffects observed.

N : P stoichiometry and habitat effects on Mediterranean savanna seasonal root dynamics