Root production and root turnover in two dominant species of wet heathlands

Aerts, Rien; Berendse, F.; Klerk, N. M.; Bakker, Cok

doi:10.1007/bf00377087

Cited by 88 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Faster turnover rates for aboveground compartments than for belowground compartments have been reported in other grassland systems (Kucera et al 1967, Aerts et al 1989, Soriano 1992). The differences in photosyntate partitioning and biomass distribution are shown by the different turnover rates (productivity/biomass) of aboveground and belowground live tissues at each site.…”

Section: Turnover Ratesmentioning

confidence: 75%

Grassland biomass dynamics along an altitudinal gradient in the Pampa

Pérez¹,

Frangi²

2000

REM

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Above and below-ground biomass and necromass dynamics were assessed for 3 grassland sites located at 550, 850, and 1,025 m elevation in Sierra de la Ventana range (38˚1'S 62˚2'W) in Argentina. The objective was to determine if differences existed in dry matter structure, mycorrhizae infection, net primary productivity (NPP) partitioning to aboveground and belowground tissues, senescence and litter fall, and seasonal patterns of dry matter fluxes with altitude. Soil properties, water budgets and temperature at the sites were also assessed. Biomass plus necromass (without litter) was 1,184 ± 41, 1,208 ± 70, and 1,507 ± 63 gDM m -2 for the lower, intermediate and upper sites, respectively. The below:aboveground biomass ratio increased with elevation. Total NPP was 1,131, 1,280, and 1,157 gDM m -2 y e a r -1 , respectively, for the 3 grassland sites. belowground allocation of net productivity increased with altitude. Both mass and proportion of thin roots increased with elevation, and so did mycorrhizae infection. The aboveground and belowground turnover rates decreased with altitude, but rates were faster for aboveground tissues. We found different temporal patterns in productivity, senescence and disappearance among grassland sites despite similar total NPP. Water holding capacity of soils and temperature were important factors related to several of the observed trends in structure and function. Differences in grassland structure and fluxes are discussed as related to soils and local climate at each site.Key Words: aboveground, belowground, litter, phytomass, productivity, roots Natural grasslands dominate the landscape of the Sierras Australes (Buenos Aires, Argentina). The grass genera with more native species in the area are S t i p a and P i p t o c h a e t i u m; other important species because of their abundance include B r i z a, S o r g h a s t r u m and F e s t u c a.These hills (spanish s i e r r a s) are a gondwanic folding system extending NE to SW, 170 km in length x 65 km maximum width. The highest point in the Pampas is peak Tres Picos (1,243 m elevation) (Harrington 1947, Suero 1972. The macroclimate at this area has been described elsewhere (Burgos 1968, Cappanini et al. 1971, Frangi and Bottino 1995. According to Thornthwaite (1948) the climate is C2 B'2 r a' -humid-subhumid, mesothermal, with a small to null water deficit, and a summer thermal concentration <48 %. Because of the low elevation of the hills, and being perpendicular to the atmosphere general circulation, they are not an effective condenser of atmospheric humidity but are effective in temperature reduction. Precipitation diminishes from NE to SW. Sierra de la Ventana (249 m asl), the nearest town to the study area, has an annual-long term mean temperature of 14.5°C and 809 mm precipitation. In the Pampas, the interannual variation of rains is ca. ± 50% of the mean (Vervoorst 1967, Cappaninni et al. 1971.The local geology is characterized by siliciclastic sedimentites of the Ventana Group, Lower Devonic age, containing fossil...

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Section: Turnover Ratesmentioning

confidence: 75%

Grassland biomass dynamics along an altitudinal gradient in the Pampa

Pérez¹,

Frangi²

2000

REM

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“…Numerous studies on fine root dynamics in temperate forests are now available (e.g. Santantonio and Grace 1987;Aerts et al 1989;Hendrick and Pregitzer 1992;Pregitzer et al 1993;Hendrick and Pregitzer 1996;Joslin et al 2000;Mainiero and Kazda 2006). In contrast, studies on fine root turnover in tropical forests are still scarce and were mostly conducted in lowland forests (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine root dynamics along a 2,000-m elevation transect in South Ecuadorian mountain rainforests

2008

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Fine root turnover plays an important role in the cycling of carbon and nutrients in ecosystems. Not much is known about fine root dynamics in tropical montane rainforests, which are characterized by steep temperature gradients over short distances. We applied the minirhizotron technique in five forest stands along an elevational transect between 1,050 and 3,060 m above sea level in a South Ecuadorian montane rainforest in order to test the influence of climate and soil parameters on fine root turnover. Turnover of roots with diameter <2.0 mm was significantly higher in the lowermost and the uppermost stand (0.9 cm cm −1 year −1 ) than in the three mid-elevation stands (0.6 cm cm −1 year −1 ). Root turnover of finest roots (d<0.5 mm) was higher compared to the root cohort with d<2.0 mm, and exceeded 1.0 cm cm −1 year −1 at the lower and upper elevations of the transect. We propose that the non linear altitudinal trend of fine root turnover originates from an overlapping of a temperature effect with other environmental gradients (e.g. adverse soil conditions) in the upper part of the transect and that the fast replacement of fine roots is used as an adaptive mechanism by trees to cope with limiting environmental conditions.

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“…Many researchers have tried to distinguish dead roots from live roots by color (e.g. Aerts et al, 1989;Hendrick and Pregitzer, 1992;Joslin et al, 2000) or shrinkage (Tierney et al, 2003). The sum of dark roots (or shrunken roots) and disappeared roots is regarded as the quantity of dead roots.…”

Section: Definitions Of Fine-root Turnover Estimated With Minirhizotronsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Soil temperature, water and nutrient availabilities and microbial biomass frequently decrease with depth (Ajwa et al, 1998;Uchida et al, 1998;Fierer et al, 2003;Fujimaki et al, 2004), leading to lower fine-root production and mortality rates (or disappearance rates) in deeper soil (e.g. Aerts et al, 1989;Milchunas et al, 2005;Fukuzawa et al, 2007). In contrast, severely arid soil conditions can reduce root production and mortality rates in shallower depths, according to root biomass distribution patterns, due to the restriction of water and nutrient availabilities at the surface (Rundel and Nobel, 1991).…”

Section: Variation With Soil Depthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hynes and Gower, 1995;Tierney and Fahey, 2002;West et al, 2004), which this study focuses on in detail. Moreover, we discuss the variation of fine-root turnover estimates with respect to variation of fine-root qualities within ≤2 mm fine roots (see Trumbore and Gaudinski, 2003;Guo et al, 2004), as well as soil abiotic/biotic conditions at different soil depths (see Aerts et al, 1989;Milchunas et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Considerations in the study of tree fine-root turnover with minirhizotrons

2007

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Fine-root turnover is an important component of forest carbon dynamics. We detail the characteristics of the minirhizotron method of measuring fine-root turnover and discuss its methodological implications. Minirhizotron data are relative values proportional to the data taken from the bulk, in situ soil, since they are taken at the soil-tube interface, so we propose several ways to validate minirhizotron data. Most short-term studies show fine-root production to be higher than fine-root mortality, suggesting that disturbance resulting from minirhizotron installation continues for several years. Initial-years results tend to lead to overestimates of fine-root dynamics, although these results define the maximal limits of fine-root production and mortality. We compare the definitions of fine-root turnover and methods of calculation used in different studies. We find that values of fine-root turnover depend on the definition of fine roots, methods of measurement, definition of turnover, and methods of calculation, so these factors must be taken into account when turnover values are discussed. In addition, soil depth is a key factor in the study of fine-root turnover, as is variation in the physical qualities, form and function, of the fine roots. Further long-term research into these key factors in relation to biotic and abiotic parameters will improve our knowledge of forest carbon dynamics.

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Root production and root turnover in two dominant species of wet heathlands

Cited by 88 publications

References 20 publications

Grassland biomass dynamics along an altitudinal gradient in the Pampa

Grassland biomass dynamics along an altitudinal gradient in the Pampa

Fine root dynamics along a 2,000-m elevation transect in South Ecuadorian mountain rainforests

Considerations in the study of tree fine-root turnover with minirhizotrons

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