Identifying tree roots in the caves of Quintana Roo, Mexico as a step toward ecological insights and improved conservation

Adams, Rachel E.; Iliffe, Thomas M.; West, Jason B.

doi:10.1002/ppp3.10079

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Furthermore, woodland plant species, such as in our case, tend to allocate significantly more biomass to roots, than species of the temperate, boreal, or tropical forest (Poorter et al., 2012). Interestingly, unlike in natural caves (Adams et al., 2019; Howarth et al., 2007; Jackson et al., 1999), part of the roots in our study did not seem to extend into the space of the caves (Figure 1). One hypothesis is that the drier conditions in our site, compared with the previously reported settings, prohibited water, and nutrient uptake from the cave itself, in contrast to the rock environment (Schwinning, 2010).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 69%

Tree Forensics: Modern DNA barcoding and traditional anatomy identify roots threatening an ancient necropolis

Jakoby

Rog

Shtein

et al. 2020

Plants People Planet

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 69%

Tree Forensics: Modern DNA barcoding and traditional anatomy identify roots threatening an ancient necropolis

Jakoby

Rog

Shtein

et al. 2020

Plants People Planet

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“…Below ground, extensive cave systems have formed by dissolution of the limestone bedrock (Smart et al, 2006;van Hengstum et al, 2010). In these caves, it is common to see tree roots emerging from conduits in the ceiling, walls, and speleothems (Adams et al, 2020b). Observations of roots in contact with groundwater in many areas of the eastern peninsula provide evidence that some trees are indeed accessing and utilizing deep water.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Groups Mask Inter- and Intraspecific Variation in Water Use Strategies in a Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest

Adams

West²

2022

Front. Water

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Across the karst landscape of Quintana Roo, Mexico, plant access to nutrients and water appears limited by generally shallow soil. However, underlying this surface are heterogenous pockets in bedrock and deeper, stable groundwater, suggesting the potential for specialization by species in accessing soil resources. If species differentially access rock resources, divisions by functional groups may also be expected. In this study, shallow caves provided an opportunity to assess resource use strategies by direct, species-specific root observations coupled with traditional above ground measurements. Utilizing stable isotopes from stems and leaves (δ18O and δ13C), we investigated water access and water use efficiency of trees during the dry season to uncover relationships between rooting habit, tree size, and pre-determined functional groups based on leaf habit and wood density. Functional group membership did not predict measured stable isotope ratios, indicating that functional groups were poor predictors of resource use. We did find evidence for deep water use by select species and larger individuals. Interestingly, as trees became larger, δ13C increased to a threshold but then declined, suggesting increasing vulnerability to water limitation as trees increase in size, consistent with other seasonally dry tropical forests. Our work demonstrates that, although shallow soils likely drive strong resource limitations, co-occurring trees in karst ecosystems employ diverse resource acquisition strategies, suggesting important consequences for community composition and ecosystem function in the face of environmental change.

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Bedrock: the hidden water reservoir for trees challenged by drought

Nardini,

Tomasella,

Di Bert

2024

Trees

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Key message Bedrock can store appreciable amounts of available water, and some trees apparently use this resource to survive drought. Abstract Several forest ecosystems rely on only shallow soil layers overlying more or less compact bedrock. In such habitats, the largest water reservoir can be represented by rock moisture, rather than by soil water. Here, we review evidence for the presence of water available for root water uptake in some rock types, and show examples of the physiological and ecological roles of rock moisture, especially when trees are facing drought conditions. The possible magnitude of rock–root water exchanges is discussed in the frame of current knowledge of rock, soil, and root hydraulic properties. We highlight several areas of uncertainty regarding the role of rock moisture in preventing tree hydraulic failure under drought, the exact pathway(s) available for rock–root water exchange, and the relative efficiencies of water transport in the different compartments of the rock–soil–root continuum. Overall, available experimental evidence suggests that bedrock water should be incorporated into any model describing the forest seasonal water use and tree responses to drought.

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Identifying tree roots in the caves of Quintana Roo, Mexico as a step toward ecological insights and improved conservation

Cited by 3 publications

References 21 publications

Tree Forensics: Modern DNA barcoding and traditional anatomy identify roots threatening an ancient necropolis

Tree Forensics: Modern DNA barcoding and traditional anatomy identify roots threatening an ancient necropolis

Functional Groups Mask Inter- and Intraspecific Variation in Water Use Strategies in a Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest

Bedrock: the hidden water reservoir for trees challenged by drought

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