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Root Productivity in an Amazonian Rain Forest
Author(s) -
Jordan Carl F.,
Escalante Gladys
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1937148
Subject(s) - amazonian , nutrient , biomass (ecology) , temperate rainforest , temperate climate , productivity , nutrient cycle , environmental science , litter , ridge , ecology , plant litter , biology , forestry , botany , geography , amazon rainforest , ecosystem , paleontology , economics , macroeconomics
Average rate of root biomass accumulation in the surface root mat of an Amazonian rain forest near San Carlos de Rio Negro, Venezuela was 117 g°m — 2 °yr — 1 , and total root biomass increment was 201 g°m — 2 °yr — 1 . Root growth was higher in the surface root mat when fresh litter was present. Root growth rates relative to shoot growth rates at San Carlos were similar to ratios for a temperate forest near Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. However, turnover rates of roots were higher at the San Carlos site. High turnover rates result in a relatively large proportion of the roots in smaller size classes, which have a large surface area in relation to their volume and thus area efficient nutrient traps. High efficiency of nutrient trapping is important in the nutrient—poor San Carlos forest.