Root Functional Traits, But Not Biomass, Determine the Magnitude of the Rhizosphere Priming Effect Among Eight Tree Species

Abstract The present study was carried out to analyse the leaf functional traits of co-occurring evergreen and deciduous tree species in a tropical dry scrub forest. This study also intended to check whether the species with contrasting leaf habits differ in their leaf trait plasticity, responding to the canopy-infestation by lianas. A total of 12 leaf functional traits were studied for eight tree species with contrasting leaf habits (evergreen and deciduous) and liana-colonization status (Liana+ and Liana−). In the liana-free environment (L−), evergreen trees had significantly higher specific leaf mass (LMA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) than the deciduous species. Whereas, the deciduous trees had higher specific leaf area (SLA) and mass-based leaf nitrogen concentration (Nmass). The leaf trait-pair relationship in the present study agreed to the well-established global trait-pair relationships (SLA Vs Nmass, Lth Vs SLA, Nmass Vs Lth, Nmass Vs LDMC, LDMC Vs SLA). There was no significant difference between L+ and L− individuals in any leaf functional traits studied in the deciduous species. However, evergreen species showed marked differences in the total chlorophyll content (Chlt), chlorophyll b (Chlb), SLA, and LMA between L+ and L− individuals of the same species. Deciduous species with the acquisitive strategy can have a competitive advantage over evergreen species in the exposed environment (L−) whereas, evergreen species with shade-tolerant properties were better acclimated to the shaded environments (L+). The result revealed the patterns of convergence and divergence in some of the leaf functional traits between evergreen and deciduous species. The results also showed the differential impact of liana colonization on the host trees with contrasting leaf habits. Therefore, liana colonization can significantly impact the C-fixation strategies of the host trees by altering their light environment. Further, the magnitude of such impact may vary among species of different leaf habits. The increased proliferation of lianas in the tropical forest canopies may pose a severe threat to the whole forest carbon assimilation rates.

Rhizosphere priming effect: A meta-analysis

Soil Biology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.04.003 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 111 ◽

pp. 78-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 83

Author(s):

Changfu Huo ◽

Yiqi Luo ◽

Weixin Cheng

Keyword(s):

Priming Effect ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Rhizosphere Priming Effect

Functional and structural roles of wiry and sturdy rooted emerged macrophytes root functional traits in the abatement of nutrients and metals

Journal of Environmental Management ◽

10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109330 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 249 ◽

pp. 109330 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Farasat Ali ◽

Ghulam Jilani ◽

Raana Fahim ◽

Leilei Bai ◽

Chunliu Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Traits ◽

Root Functional Traits

Author Correction: Evolutionary history resolves global organization of root functional traits

Nature ◽

10.1038/s41586-019-1214-3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 570 (7759) ◽

pp. E25-E25

Author(s):

Zeqing Ma ◽

Dali Guo ◽

Xingliang Xu ◽

Mingzhen Lu ◽

Richard D. Bardgett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Traits ◽

Evolutionary History ◽

Global Organization ◽

Root Functional Traits

Light intensity controls rhizosphere respiration rate and rhizosphere priming effect of soybean and sunflower

Rhizosphere ◽

10.1016/j.rhisph.2018.12.002 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 97-105 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Mao Tang ◽

Weixin Cheng ◽

Hui Zeng ◽

Biao Zhu

Keyword(s):

Light Intensity ◽

Respiration Rate ◽

Priming Effect ◽

Rhizosphere Respiration ◽

Rhizosphere Priming Effect

Soil DOC release and aggregate disruption mediate rhizosphere priming effect on soil C decomposition

Soil Biology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/j.soilbio.2020.107787 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 144 ◽

pp. 107787 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yanghui He ◽

Weixin Cheng ◽

Lingyan Zhou ◽

Junjiong Shao ◽

Huiying Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Priming Effect ◽

Soil C ◽

Rhizosphere Priming Effect ◽

C Decomposition

Rhizosphere priming effect on N mineralization in vegetable and grain crop systems

Plant and Soil ◽

10.1007/s11104-020-04566-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 452 (1-2) ◽

pp. 281-293

Author(s):

Thiago de Oliveira Vargas ◽

Amy Concilio ◽

Leomar Guilherme Woyann ◽

Ricardo Henrique Silva Santos ◽

Weixin Cheng

Keyword(s):

N Mineralization ◽

Priming Effect ◽

Rhizosphere Priming Effect ◽

Grain Crop

Traits associated with nutrient impoverishment and shade-tolerance in tree juveniles of three Bornean rain forests with contrasting nutrient availability

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467415000097 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 231-242 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ryota Aoyagi ◽

Kanehiro Kitayama

Keyword(s):

Functional Traits ◽

Biomass Allocation ◽

Nutrient Availability ◽

Tree Species ◽

Shade Tolerance ◽

Rain Forests ◽

Leaf Production ◽

Site Factor ◽

Dipterocarp Forests ◽

Nutrient Impoverishment

Abstract:In this study, we tested the hypothesis that functional traits associated with nutrient impoverishment contribute to enhancing shade-tolerance (survival at low light) for the juveniles of canopy tree species in Bornean rain forests. To test the hypothesis, survival and functional traits (biomass allocation, leaf dynamics and foliar nutrient concentration) were investigated as a function of light conditions for saplings of 13 species in three forests with different levels of nutrient availability. As predicted by the hypothesis, the species in the severely nutrient-poor site (a tropical heath forest on nutrient-poor soils) showed greater shade-tolerance (>91% survival for 8 mo at 5% global site factor) than in the other two sites (mixed dipterocarp forests) (54–87% survival). Across the species, greater shade-tolerance was associated with a higher biomass allocation to roots, a slower leaf production and a higher foliar C concentration, which are considered as C-conservation traits under nutrient impoverishment. These results suggest that the juveniles of the canopy species occurring on nutrient-poor soils can enhance shade-tolerance by the same mechanisms as the adaptation to nutrient impoverishments. Tree species in nutrient-poor environments may be selected for surviving also in shaded conditions.

Traits to stay, traits to move: a review of functional traits to assess sensitivity and adaptive capacity of temperate and boreal trees to climate change

Environmental Reviews ◽

10.1139/er-2015-0072 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 164-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 66

Author(s):

I. Aubin ◽

A.D. Munson ◽

F. Cardou ◽

P.J. Burton ◽

N. Isabel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Adaptive Capacity ◽

Functional Traits ◽

Tree Species ◽

Large Scale ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Data Availability ◽

Distribution Models ◽

Recovery Capacity ◽

Vulnerability Assessments

The integration of functional traits into vulnerability assessments is a promising approach to quantitatively capture differences in species sensitivity and adaptive capacity to climate change, allowing the refinement of tree species distribution models. In response to a clear need to identify traits that are responsive to climate change and applicable in a management context, we review the state of knowledge of the main mechanisms, and their associated traits, that underpin the ability of boreal and temperate tree species to persist and (or) shift their distribution in a changing climate. We aimed to determine whether current knowledge is sufficiently mature and available to be used effectively in vulnerability assessments. Marshalling recent conceptual advances and assessing data availability, our ultimate objective is to guide modellers and practitioners in finding and selecting sets of traits that can be used to capture differences in species’ ability to persist and migrate. While the physiological mechanisms that determine sensitivity to climate change are relatively well understood (e.g., drought-induced cavitation), many associated traits have not been systematically documented for North American trees and differences in methodology preclude their widespread integration into vulnerability assessments (e.g., xylem recovery capacity). In contrast, traits traditionally associated with the ability to migrate and withstand fire are generally well documented, but new key traits are emerging in the context of climate change that have not been as well characterized (e.g., age of optimum seed production). More generally, lack of knowledge surrounding the extent and patterns in intraspecific trait variation, as well as co-variation and interaction among traits, limit our ability to use this approach to assess tree adaptive capacity. We conclude by outlining research needs and potential strategies for the development of trait-based knowledge applicable in large-scale modelling efforts, sketching out important aspects of trait data organization that should be part of a coordinated effort by the forest science community.