New evidence for the importance of soil nitrogen on the survival and adaptation of silver birch to climate warming

Possen, Boy J.H.M.; Rousi, Matti; Keski‐Saari, Sarita; Silfver, Tarja; Kontunen-Soppela, Sari; Oksanen, Elina; Mikola, Juha

doi:10.1002/ecs2.3520

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 83 publications

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“…In particular, significant correlations (p < 0.05) were observed between N soil and prominent plant traits in the soil of C. dactylon and X. strumarium at the medium and low flooding intensity. These findings are consistent with previous studies and support the importance of N soil for the growth and adaptability of these plants [32,37].…”

Section: Soil Nitrogen Availability Determines the Trade-offs Of Leaf...supporting

confidence: 93%

“…The unstable environmental conditions may require plants to balance resource use while adapting to water stress. Therefore, annual plants in the riparian zone may be more flexible in their resource allocation strategies to adapt to environmental changes [32]. Perennial plants exposed to long-term flood pressure adapt gradually and exhibit strong trade-off strategies, while annual plants exhibit greater flexibility and resource allocation strategies under different flood conditions.…”

Section: The Trade-offs Of Leaf-root Traits Varied Among Plant Specie...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil Nitrogen and Flooding Intensity Determine the Trade-Off between Leaf and Root Traits of Riparian Plant Species

Zou,

Wang,

Huang

et al. 2024

Plants

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The investigation into trade-offs among plant functional traits sheds light on how plants strategically balance growth and survival when facing environmental stress. This study sought to evaluate whether trade-offs observed at both community and individual species levels could indicate adaptive fitness across an intensity of flooding intensity. The study was conducted at 25 sampling sites spanning approximately 600 km along the riparian zone in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, China. The findings revealed that, along the flooding gradient, the overall riparian community did not exhibit significant trade-offs between leaf and root traits. Examining three broadly distributed dominant species (Cynodon dactylon, Xanthium strumarium, and Abutilon theophrasti), perennial plants showed pronounced trade-offs under low flooding intensity, while annuals exhibited trade-offs under moderate and low flooding intensity. The trade-offs were evident in traits related to nitrogen-carbon resources, such as specific leaf area, root tissue density, and photosynthetic rate. However, under strong flooding intensity, the relationship between leaf and root traits of the species studied was decoupled. Furthermore, the study identified a significant correlation between soil nitrogen and the trade-off traits under moderate and low flooding intensity. Integrating results from the CSR (Competitors, Stress-tolerators, Ruderals) strategy model, species niche breath analysis, and nitrogen-regulated trade-off, the study revealed that, in the face of high flooding intensity, perennial species (C. dactylon) adopts an S-strategy, demonstrating tolerance through a conservative resource allocation that decouples leaf-root coordination. Annual species (X. strumarium and A. theophrasti), on the other hand, exhibit niche specialization along the flooding gradient, employing distinct strategies (R- and C-strategy). As flooding stress diminishes and soil nitrogen level decreases, plant strategies tend to shift towards an R-strategy with a competition for reduced N resources. In conclusion, the study highlighted the pivotal roles of soil nitrogen and flooding intensity acting as the dual determinants of species growth and tolerance. These dynamics of growth-tolerance balance were evident in the diverse trade-offs between leaf and root traits of individual plant species with different life histories, underscoring the array of adaptive strategies employed by riparian plants across the flooding intensity gradient.

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Section: Soil Nitrogen Availability Determines the Trade-offs Of Leaf...supporting

confidence: 93%

Section: The Trade-offs Of Leaf-root Traits Varied Among Plant Specie...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Nitrogen and Flooding Intensity Determine the Trade-Off between Leaf and Root Traits of Riparian Plant Species

Zou,

Wang,

Huang

et al. 2024

Plants

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Some aspects of this issue have been explored by Mikola et al (2018), Silfver et al (2007), and Silfver et al (2018), who studied effects of silver birch genotype on N use efficiency, litterfall chemistry, its decomposition intensity, and soil microbiome. Possen et al (2021) highlighted importance of that element in survival and adaptation of silver birch to climate changes. Ostonen et al (2007) and Rosenvald et al (2011) studied importance of soil characteristics as factors influencing development of root system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient fluxes via litterfall in silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) stands growing on post-arable soils

et al. 2023

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the importance of litterfall as a link in biogeochemical cycling of certain elements (C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn) in silver birch stands growing on post-arable soils under temperate climatic conditions (Poland). The study covered three stands on sandy soils (21, 29, and 40 years old) and three on loamy soils (15, 33, and 41 years old). Litterfall was collected during 2020–2021 and analysed using standard procedures. Elemental contents were determined also in green leaves collected from the tree crowns in early summer to determine intensity of retranslocation. The total litterfall production varied from 2576 to 5293 kg ha−1, depending on the stand and year. These values are typical of temperate forests. Litterfall production was positively correlated with stand age. Leaves made up the major fraction, followed by twigs. Silver birch litterfall was generally rich in nutrients compared to many other tree species typical for temperate climatic zone. Nutrient fluxes to the soil were in the upper limits reported in the literature. It may partially be an effect of the post-arable history of these stands. Large fluxes of nutrients to the soil via litterfall are important in the context of the high nutritional demands of the studied tree species. This study also showed that silver birch strongly retranslocates N, P, and K from senescing leaves, whereas Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn are accumulated in these organs.

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“…As a species with high plasticity, it may benefit from climate warming although simultaneously, e.g., herbivory damage may increase, and early-stage survival may decrease at low fertility sites ( Silfver et al. 2020 , Oksanen 2021 , Possen et al. 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Separating the effects of air and soil temperature on silver birch. Part II. The relation of physiology and leaf anatomy to growth dynamics

et al. 2022

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The aboveground parts of boreal forest trees grow earlier in the growing season, the roots mostly later. The idea was to examine whether root growth followed soil temperature, or whether shoot growth also demanded most resources in the early growing season (soil temperature vs internal sink strengths for resources). The linkage between air and soil temperature was broken by switching the soil temperature. We aimed here to identify the direct effects of different soil temperature patterns on physiology, leaf anatomy and their interactions, and how they relate to the control of the growth dynamics of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth). Sixteen 2-year-old seedlings were grown in a controlled environment for two 14-week simulated growing seasons (GS1, GS2). An eight-week dormancy period interposed the GSs. In GS2, soil temperature treatments were applied: constant 10°C (Cool), constant 18°C (Warm), early growing season at 10°C switched to 18°C later (Early Cool Late Warm, ECLW), and 18°C followed by 10°C (EWLC) were applied during GS2. The switch from cool to warm enhanced the water status, net photosynthesis, chlorophyll content index, effective yield of photosystem II (ΔF/Fm′), and leaf expansion of the seedlings. Warm treatment increased the stomatal number per leaf. In contrast, soil cooling increased glandular trichomes. This investment in increasing the chemical defense potential may be associated with the decreased growth in cool soil. Non-structural carbohydrates were accumulated in leaves at a low soil temperature showing that growth was more hindered than net photosynthesis. Leaf anatomy differed between the first and second leaf flush of silver birch, which may promote tree fitness in the prevailing growing conditions. The interaction of birch structure and function change with soil temperature, which can further reflect to ecosystem functioning.

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New evidence for the importance of soil nitrogen on the survival and adaptation of silver birch to climate warming

Abstract: New evidence for the importance of soil nitrogen on the survival and adaptation of silver birch to climate warming.

Cited by 8 publications

References 83 publications

Soil Nitrogen and Flooding Intensity Determine the Trade-Off between Leaf and Root Traits of Riparian Plant Species

Soil Nitrogen and Flooding Intensity Determine the Trade-Off between Leaf and Root Traits of Riparian Plant Species

Nutrient fluxes via litterfall in silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) stands growing on post-arable soils

Separating the effects of air and soil temperature on silver birch. Part II. The relation of physiology and leaf anatomy to growth dynamics

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