scholarly journals Do root modules still exist after they die?

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihong Li ◽  
Chengming You ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Han Li ◽  
Bo Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Plant Root ◽  
Sequential Sampling ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Terminal Branch ◽  
Litter Bag ◽  
Belowground Processes ◽  
Picea Asperata ◽  
First Time

Abstract Background The terminal branch orders of plant root systems are increasingly known as an ephemeral module. This concept is crucial to recognize belowground processes. However, it is unknown if root modules still exist after they die? Methods The decomposition patterns of the first five root orders were observed for 3 years using a branch-order classification, a litter-bag method and sequential sampling in a common subalpine tree species (Picea asperata) of southwestern China. Results Two root modules were observed during the 3-year incubation. Among the first five branch orders, the first three order roots exhibited temporal patterns of mass loss, nutrients and stoichiometry distinct from their woody mother roots throughout the experimental period. This study, for the first time, reported the decomposition pattern of each individual root order and found a similar decomposition dynamic among ephemeral root branches in a forest tree species. Conclusions Results from this study suggest that root modules may also exist after death, while more data are needed for confirmation. The findings may further advance our understanding of architecture-associated functional heterogeneity in the fine-root system and also improve our ability to predict belowground processes.

Do Root Modules Still Exist after they Die?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihong Li ◽  
Chengming You ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Han Li ◽  
Bo Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Plant Root ◽  
Sequential Sampling ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Terminal Branch ◽  
Litter Bag ◽  
Belowground Processes ◽  
Picea Asperata ◽  
First Time

Abstract Background: The terminal branch orders of plant root systems are increasingly known as an ephemeral module. This concept is very crucial to recognize belowground processes. However, it is unknown if root modules still exist after they die? Methods: The decomposition patterns of the first five root orders were observed for 3 years using a branch-order classification, a litter-bag method and sequential sampling in a common subalpine tree species (Picea asperata) of southwestern China. Results: Two root modules were observed during the 3-year incubation. Among the first five branch orders, the first three order roots exhibited temporal patterns of mass loss, nutrients and stoichiometry distinct from their woody mother roots throughout the experimental period. This study, for the first time, reported the decomposition pattern of each individual root order and found a similar decomposition dynamic among ephemeral root branches in a forest tree species. Conclusions: Results from this study clearly suggest that root modules may also exist after death, while more data are needed for confirmation. The findings may further advance our understanding of architecture-associated functional heterogeneity in fine-root system and also improve our ability to predict belowground processes.

A case of gender equality: absence of sex-related costs in a dioecious tropical forest tree species

Plant Ecology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valéria Forni Martins ◽  
Rafaela Letícia Brito Bispo ◽  
Priscilla de Paula Loiola
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Forest Tree Species

scholarly journals Fire suppression and seed dispersal play critical roles in the establishment of tropical forest tree species in southeastern Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Fujita
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Tree Seedlings ◽  
Seedling Mortality ◽  
Forest Tree Species ◽  
Seed Deposition ◽  
Syzygium Guineense

AbstractThis study examined the mechanisms of facilitation and importance of seed dispersal during establishment of forest tree species in an Afrotropical woodland. Seedling survival of Syzygium guineense ssp. afromontanum was monitored for 2.5 years at four different microsites in savannah woodland in Malawi (southeastern Africa) under Ficus natalensis (a potential nurse plant), Brachystegia floribunda (a woodland tree), Uapaca kirkiana (a woodland tree), and at a treeless site. The number of naturally established forest tree seedlings in the woodland was also counted. Additionally, S. guineense ssp. afromontanum seed deposition was monitored at the four microsites. Insect damage (9% of the total cause of mortality) and trampling by ungulates (1%) had limited impact on seedling survival in this area. Fire (43%) was found to be the most important cause of seedling mortality and fire induced mortality was especially high under U. kirkiana (74%) and at treeless site (51%). The rate was comparatively low under F. natalensis (4%) and B. floribunda (23%), where fire is thought to be inhibited due to the lack of light-demanding C4 grasses. Consequently, seedling survival under F. natalensis and B. floribunda was higher compared with the other two microsites. The seedling survival rate was similar under F. natalensis (57%) and B. floribunda (59%). However, only a few S. guineense ssp. afromontanum seedlings naturally established under B. floribunda (25/285) whereas many seedlings established under F. natalensis (146/285). These findings indicate that the facilitative mechanism of fire suppression is not the only factor affecting establishment. The seed deposition investigation revealed that most of the seeds (85%) were deposited under F. natalensis. As such, these findings suggest that in addition to fire suppression, dispersal limitations also play a role in forest-savannah dynamics in this region, especially at the community level.

scholarly journals Bark traits, decomposition and flammability of Australian forest trees

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saskia Grootemaat ◽  
Ian J. Wright ◽  
Peter M. van Bodegom ◽  
Johannes H. C. Cornelissen ◽  
Veronica Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Forest Tree ◽  
Remarkable Feature ◽  
Interspecific Differences ◽  
Eucalypt Plantations ◽  
Physical Traits ◽  
Key Driver ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
First Time ◽  
Different Tissues

Bark shedding is a remarkable feature of Australian trees, yet relatively little is known about interspecific differences in bark decomposability and flammability, or what chemical or physical traits drive variation in these properties. We measured the decomposition rate and flammability (ignitibility, sustainability and combustibility) of bark from 10 common forest tree species, and quantified correlations with potentially important traits. We compared our findings to those for leaf litter, asking whether the same traits drive flammability and decomposition in different tissues, and whether process rates are correlated across tissue types. Considerable variation in bark decomposability and flammability was found both within and across species. Bark decomposed more slowly than leaves, but in both tissues lignin concentration was a key driver. Bark took longer to ignite than leaves, and had longer mass-specific flame durations. Variation in flammability parameters was driven by different traits in the different tissues. Decomposability and flammability were each unrelated, when comparing between the different tissue types. For example, species with fast-decomposing leaves did not necessarily have fast-decomposing bark. For the first time, we show how patterns of variation in decomposability and flammability of bark diverge across multiple species. By taking species-specific bark traits into consideration there is potential to make better estimates of wildfire risks and carbon loss dynamics. This can lead to better informed management decisions for Australian forests, and eucalypt plantations, worldwide.

Evaluating the effects of forest tree species on rill detachment capacity in a semi-arid environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 106158
Author(s):  
Misagh Parhizkar ◽  
Mahmood Shabanpour ◽  
Isabel Miralles ◽  
Artemio Cerdà ◽  
Nobuaki Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Arid Environment ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Forest Tree Species ◽  
Semi Arid

The significance of xanthophylls and tocopherols in photo-oxidative stress and photoprotection of three Canarian laurel forest tree species on a high radiation day

2001 ◽  
Vol 158 (12) ◽  
pp. 1547-1554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agueda María González-Rodríguez ◽  
Michael Tausz ◽  
Astrid Wonisch ◽  
María Soledad Jiménez ◽  
Dieter Grill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
High Radiation ◽  
Laurel Forest ◽  
Forest Tree Species

Ammonium, nitrate and glycine uptake of six Ecuadorian tropical montane forest tree species: anin situpot experiment with saplings

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bärbel Wittich ◽  
Jürgen Homeier ◽  
Christoph Leuschner
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Tropical Trees ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
Tropical Montane Forest ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Coarse Roots ◽  
N Form ◽  
Form Preference

Abstract:Not much is known about the nitrogen (N) uptake capacity and N-form preference of tropical trees. In a replicated labelling experiment with15N-ammonium,15N-nitrate and dual-labelled glycine applied to saplings of six tree species from southern Ecuadorian montane forests, we tested the hypotheses that (1) the saplings of tropical trees are capable of using organic N even though they are forming arbuscular mycorrhizas, and (2) with increasing altitude, tree saplings increasingly prefer ammonium and glycine over nitrate due to reduced nitrification and growing humus accumulation. Three- to 5-y-old saplings of two species each from 1000, 2000 and 3000 m asl were grown in pots inside the forest at their origin and labelled with non-fertilizing amounts of the three N forms;15N enrichment was detected 5 days after labelling in fine roots, coarse roots, shoots and leaves. The six species differed with respect to their N-form preference, but neither the abundance of ammonium and nitrate in the soil nor altitude (1000–3000 m asl) seemed to influence the preference. Two species (those with highest growth rate) preferred NH4+over NO3−, while the other four species took up NO3−and NH4+at similar rates when both N forms were equally available. After13C-glycine addition,13C was significantly accumulated in the biomass of three species (all species with exclusively AM symbionts) but a convincing proof of the uptake of intact glycine molecules by these tropical montane forest trees was not obtained.

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