Editorial: Special issue on biomass partitioning to leaves and roots

Werf, Adrie van der; Lambers, Hans

doi:10.1007/bf02257559

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Consistent with the balanced growth hypothesis (Davidson 1969; Van der Werf & Lambers 1996), biomass allocated to below‐ground parts decreased with increased below‐ground resources, when phosphorus was added and, in the upland, when water availability increased. However, decreased below‐ground allocation and increased above‐ground biomass with water shortage in the lowland indicate other mechanisms at work (see below).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 61%

“…At an individual level, responses to changes in environmental conditions can be achieved through physiological adjustments of existing plants. Among these adjustments, shifts in biomass allocation between above‐ and below‐ground organs are considered to be important mechanisms used by plants to maintain their productivity in the face of environmental change and limiting factors (Davidson 1969; Van der Werf & Lambers 1996). Plants maintain a balanced functional economy by partitioning photosynthate and absorbed minerals into roots and shoots.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Plants maintain a balanced functional economy by partitioning photosynthate and absorbed minerals into roots and shoots. The functional equilibrium model assumes that the relative allocation to shoots and roots varies to compensate for changes in root and shoot activity (Van der Werf & Lambers 1996). When there is nutrient or water shortage, plants invest in root growth and more biomass is allocated to the root system (Beck 1996; Van der Werf & Lambers 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The functional equilibrium model assumes that the relative allocation to shoots and roots varies to compensate for changes in root and shoot activity (Van der Werf & Lambers 1996). When there is nutrient or water shortage, plants invest in root growth and more biomass is allocated to the root system (Beck 1996; Van der Werf & Lambers 1996). Therefore, the root mass:shoot mass ratio balances the photosynthetic rate:absorption rate, setting limits to plant responses (Davidson 1969).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2000)? (ii) Does the ecosystem shift patterns of below‐ground allocation as a mechanism to cope with the altered climatic conditions (Davidson 1969; Van der Werf & Lambers 1996)? (iii) Do responses to altered resource availability with warming involve changes in plant guild composition (Dormann & Woodin 2002)?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Plant guilds drive biomass response to global warming and water availability in subalpine grassland

Sebastià

2006

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Summary1. The consequences of global warming and changes in resource availability were investigated in subalpine grasslands in the Pyrenees. These communities are considered to be especially vulnerable to climate change because of their position at the south-western edge of the semi-natural grassland biome in Europe. 2. Changes in patterns of above-and below-ground biomass were assessed for different plant guilds in two experiments, in which turves were transplanted from upland to lowland locations. The first experiment aimed to evaluate general responses to warming and drought, and the second to disentangle the effects of possible underlying mechanisms through resource manipulation by means of a nitrogen × phosphorus fertilization experiment. 3. The increased above-ground biomass in grassland turves transplanted to lowlands suggested that biomass production was more temperature-limited than water-limited. The enhancement effect found in the upland turves following phosphorus addition supported the hypothesis of a strong limitation arising from reduced nutrient availability, confirming the central role played by phosphorus in these grasslands and its potential importance in the response to global change. 4. Nitrogen addition did not stimulate total biomass but affected guild composition. Grasses dominated the uplands and at high resource levels, while forbs dominated the lowlands and when water and nutrients decreased. The counterintuitive effect of increased biomass with decreased water in the lowlands was related to shifts in dominance from grasses to forbs, probably enabled by decreased nutrient availability under drought conditions. 5. Synthesis and applications . Environmental factors interacted in complex ways, producing changes in biomass distribution and guild proportions in subalpine grassland. In addition, the results suggested that the capability of high-altitude grasslands to provide quality forage in summer time could be threatened in the northern Mediterranean region under climate change conditions because of: (i) a decrease in their reliability as a result of complex biomass interactions with temperature, water and nutrient dynamics; (ii) expected feedback mechanisms; and (iii) compositional shifts.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 61%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%