Record ID No. |
5608 |
Author(s) |
Kong D.*, Wang J., Wu H., Valverde-Barrantes O., Wang R., Kardol P., Zhang H. an Feng Y. , 2019 |
Affiliation |
*Liaoning Key Laboratory for Biological Invasions and Global Change, Shenyang Agricultural University, 110866, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. |
Title |
Nonlinearity of root trait relationships and the root economics spectrum. |
Source. Vol.(no):Page |
Nature communications.10 (2203), doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-10245-6. |
Categories |
|
Subjects |
General |
Host |
NA |
Organism |
NA |
Country |
China |
Abstracts |
The root economics spectrum (RES), a common hypothesis postulating a tradeoff between
resource acquisition and conservation traits, is being challenged by conflicting relationships
between root diameter, tissue density (RTD) and root nitrogen concentration (RN). Here, we
analyze a global trait dataset of absorptive roots for over 800 plant species. For woody
species (but not for non-woody species), we find nonlinear relationships between root diameter and RTD and RN, which stem from the allometric relationship between stele and
cortical tissues. These nonlinear relationships explain how sampling bias from different ends
of the nonlinear curves can result in conflicting trait relationships. Further, the shape of the
relationships varies depending on evolutionary context and mycorrhizal affiliation. Importantly, the observed nonlinear trait relationships do not support the RES predictions.
Allometry-based nonlinearity of root trait relationships improves our understanding of the
ecology, physiology and evolution of absorptive roots. |