Fertilization influences the nutrient acquisition strategy of a nomadic vine in a lowland tropical forest understory

Woods, Carrie L.; DeWalt, Saara J.; Cardelús, Catherine L.; Harms, Kyle E.; Yavitt, Joseph B.; Wright, S. Joseph

doi:10.1007/s11104-018-3772-9

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…Therefore, in this forest, the development of the largest volume of CS occurs on inner branches, while the more vertical trunk cannot support an accumulation of CS, and the outer branches are too young and have had insufficient time to accumulate CS. For this reason, the larger abundance of CS on inner branches suggests that these structures are sufficiently stable to support the development of the epiphyte community (Brown ; Chen et al ; Woods et al , ). In these mats, the nature of the interactions (competition–facilitation) among epiphytes remains unknown but could be elucidated through experiments featuring co‐occurrence.…”

Section: Crown Traits and Epiphyte Abundance Determining Csmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epiphyte associations and canopy soil volume: nutrient capital and factors influencing soil retention in the canopy

et al. 2020

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Canopy soil (CS) volume reflect epiphyte community maturity, but little is known about the factors that retain CS or species succession within it. Humus fern species (e.g. Phlebodium areolatum) appear capable of retaining CS.• In ten Quercus spp. we sampled 987 epiphyte mats to examine the role of the common epiphyte species and crown traits determining CS volume, in order to infer successional stages and identify pioneer and late successional species. Branch traits (height, diameter and slope), CS volume and cover of the epiphyte species were determined for each mat. Nutrient content was determined in CS random samples of 12 epiphyte associations and sizes (one sample from each size quintile).• A total of 60% of the mats lack CS. Cover of P. areolatum was the main variable explaining CS volume, and this species was present in 46.8% of those with CS. Epiphyte composition was highly variable, but pioneer (species appearing in monospecific mats, without CS) and late successional species could be identified. Canopy soil nutrient content was similar among the associations of epiphytes. Magnesium, Ca and pH decreased with CS volume, while P and N increased.• Phlebodium areolatum is associated with high CS volumes and could act as a key species in its retention. Monospecific mats of pioneer species lack CS or have low volumes, while CS is much higher in mats with late successional species, but the mechanisms of CS formation and nutrient retention in response to interactions between epiphyte species remain to be tested.Plant Biology 22 (2020) 541-552

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Section: Crown Traits and Epiphyte Abundance Determining Csmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epiphyte associations and canopy soil volume: nutrient capital and factors influencing soil retention in the canopy

et al. 2020

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“…For example, root length or SRL did not change in most studies in low‐P fertility forests (Table S8; e.g., Blair & Perfecto, 2008; Lugli et al., 2021; Wurzburger & Wright, 2015). Moreover, root diameter, SRA, and RTD in P‐limited central Amazon forests did not change with N addition (Lugli et al., 2021), nor did root tips per length in a low‐P lowland tropical forest in Panama (Woods et al., 2018). Some N‐addition studies found increased fine root N content, including N‐rich tropical forests in China and Puerto Rico (Cusack et al., 2011; Mo et al., 2015; Zhu et al., 2022) and N‐poor secondary forests and plantations in China (Zhu et al., 2022).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tropical root responses to global changes: A synthesis

Yaffar,

Lugli,

Wong

et al. 2024

Global Change Biology

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Tropical ecosystems face escalating global change. These shifts can disrupt tropical forests' carbon (C) balance and impact root dynamics. Since roots perform essential functions such as resource acquisition and tissue protection, root responses can inform about the strategies and vulnerabilities of ecosystems facing present and future global changes. However, root trait dynamics are poorly understood, especially in tropical ecosystems. We analyzed existing research on tropical root responses to key global change drivers: warming, drought, flooding, cyclones, nitrogen (N) deposition, elevated (e) CO2, and fires. Based on tree species‐ and community‐level literature, we obtained 266 root trait observations from 93 studies across 24 tropical countries. We found differences in the proportion of root responsiveness to global change among different global change drivers but not among root categories. In particular, we observed that tropical root systems responded to warming and eCO2 by increasing root biomass in species‐scale studies. Drought increased the root: shoot ratio with no change in root biomass, indicating a decline in aboveground biomass. Despite N deposition being the most studied global change driver, it had some of the most variable effects on root characteristics, with few predictable responses. Episodic disturbances such as cyclones, fires, and flooding consistently resulted in a change in root trait expressions, with cyclones and fires increasing root production, potentially due to shifts in plant community and nutrient inputs, while flooding changed plant regulatory metabolisms due to low oxygen conditions. The data available to date clearly show that tropical forest root characteristics and dynamics are responding to global change, although in ways that are not always predictable. This synthesis indicates the need for replicated studies across root characteristics at species and community scales under different global change factors.

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“…A second major motivation for this study was the lack of any in‐depth study of herbaceous climbers on BCI. Although this field site has been a research hot spot of the study of tropical ecology for more than a century (Muller‐Landau & Wright, 2023), this is not true for this group of plants, which has received very little attention (but see Meyer & Zotz, 2004; Woods et al., 2018). The three species that could be identified as hemiepiphytes were represented by relatively few individuals each (28–73 individuals), but were relatively widespread, that is, found in about two‐thirds of all plots.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climbing aroids in a Panamanian lowland forest: We should reconsider our categories

Einzmann,

Weichgrebe,

Kohlstruck

et al. 2024

J Vegetation Science

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BackgroundIn contrast to woody climbers, information on community composition or vertical extension within the forest is scarce for herbaceous climbers, even in well‐studied field sites like Barro Colorado Island. Moreover, questions regarding ontogenetic patterns (site of germination, changes in root/shoot connection with the soil) are unresolved because of a lack of field data.LocationBarro Colorado Island, Panama.MethodsIn 17 plots of 400 m2 each, which were distributed all over the island, we recorded all potential hosts (trees, palms, lianas) with a diameter at breast height larger than 1 cm, and all climbing aroids attached to them. For aroids, we recorded species identity, number of shoots, root connections to the ground, and vertical shoot extension. By distinguishing three size classes for each species in our analyses we deduced the site of germination and ontogenetic changes in the root/shoot connection with the soil.ResultsOnly 16% of all potential hosts were occupied by climbing aroids. We recorded 1196 individuals of 17 species. Aroids preferred larger trees and old‐growth forest. Species differed strongly in vertical distribution. Hemiepiphytic species germinate epiphytically, often high up in tree crowns and later establish root contact with the soil, while the majority of species establish on or close to the ground and reach moderate heights of 5–15 m (forest height ca. 35 m). In all of these species, we observed dieback of the proximal portion of the shoot to a varying extent but contact with the soil was invariably retained via adventitious roots.ConclusionsWe provide rare quantitative data on species richness and abundance of herbaceous climbers in a tropical lowland forest. Few species fall neatly into the categories of vines, nomadic vines and hemiepiphytes. This highlights the need for longitudinal observational and experimental studies to resolve the current debate on the appropriate grouping of these climbers.

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Fertilization influences the nutrient acquisition strategy of a nomadic vine in a lowland tropical forest understory

Cited by 5 publications

References 68 publications

Epiphyte associations and canopy soil volume: nutrient capital and factors influencing soil retention in the canopy

Epiphyte associations and canopy soil volume: nutrient capital and factors influencing soil retention in the canopy

Tropical root responses to global changes: A synthesis

Climbing aroids in a Panamanian lowland forest: We should reconsider our categories

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