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Fine root dynamics across pantropical rainforest ecosystems
Author(s) -
Huaraca Huasco Walter,
Riutta Terhi,
Girardin Cécile A. J.,
Hancco Pacha Fernando,
Puma Vilca Beisit L.,
Moore Sam,
Rifai Sami W.,
AguilaPasquel Jhon,
Araujo Murakami Alejandro,
Freitag Renata,
Morel Alexandra C.,
Demissie Sheleme,
Doughty Christopher E.,
Oliveras Imma,
Galiano Cabrera Darcy F.,
Durand Baca Liliana,
Farfán Amézquita Filio,
Silva Espejo Javier E.,
Costa Antonio C.L.,
Oblitas Mendoza Erick,
Quesada Carlos Alberto,
Evouna Ondo Fidele,
Edzang Ndong Josué,
Jeffery Kathryn J.,
Mihindou Vianet,
White Lee J. T.,
N'ssi Bengone Natacha,
Ibrahim Forzia,
AddoDanso Shalom D.,
DuahGyamfi Akwasi,
Djaney Djagbletey Gloria,
OwusuAfriyie Kennedy,
Amissah Lucy,
Mbou Armel T.,
Marthews Toby R.,
Metcalfe Daniel B.,
Aragão Luiz E. O.,
MarimonJunior Ben H.,
Marimon Beatriz S.,
Majalap Noreen,
AduBredu Stephen,
Abernethy Katharine A.,
Silman Miles,
Ewers Robert M.,
Meir Patrick,
Malhi Yadvinder
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
global change biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.146
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1365-2486
pISSN - 1354-1013
DOI - 10.1111/gcb.15677
Subject(s) - rainforest , pantropical , environmental science , productivity , deciduous , ecosystem , soil water , biomass (ecology) , ecology , forest ecology , primary production , tropical rainforest , biome , agroforestry , soil science , biology , economics , macroeconomics , genus
Fine roots constitute a significant component of the net primary productivity (NPP) of forest ecosystems but are much less studied than aboveground NPP. Comparisons across sites and regions are also hampered by inconsistent methodologies, especially in tropical areas. Here, we present a novel dataset of fine root biomass, productivity, residence time, and allocation in tropical old‐growth rainforest sites worldwide, measured using consistent methods, and examine how these variables are related to consistently determined soil and climatic characteristics. Our pantropical dataset spans intensive monitoring plots in lowland (wet, semi‐deciduous, and deciduous) and montane tropical forests in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia ( n = 47). Large spatial variation in fine root dynamics was observed across montane and lowland forest types. In lowland forests, we found a strong positive linear relationship between fine root productivity and sand content, this relationship was even stronger when we considered the fractional allocation of total NPP to fine roots, demonstrating that understanding allocation adds explanatory power to understanding fine root productivity and total NPP. Fine root residence time was a function of multiple factors: soil sand content, soil pH, and maximum water deficit, with longest residence times in acidic, sandy, and water‐stressed soils. In tropical montane forests, on the other hand, a different set of relationships prevailed, highlighting the very different nature of montane and lowland forest biomes. Root productivity was a strong positive linear function of mean annual temperature, root residence time was a strong positive function of soil nitrogen content in montane forests, and lastly decreasing soil P content increased allocation of productivity to fine roots. In contrast to the lowlands, environmental conditions were a better predictor for fine root productivity than for fractional allocation of total NPP to fine roots, suggesting that root productivity is a particularly strong driver of NPP allocation in tropical mountain regions.