Scientific Reports,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: Jan. 3, 2025
Abstract
The
existence
of
trait
coordination
in
roots
and
leaves
has
recently
been
debated,
with
studies
reaching
opposing
conclusions.
Here,
we
assessed
across
twelve
boreal
tree
species.
We
show
that
there
is
only
partial
evidence
for
above-belowground
“fast-slow”
economic
traits
species,
i.e.,
while
N
content
were
positively
correlated,
as
well
dry
matter
content,
root
leaf
had
no
significant
relationship.
For
resource
acquisition
(i.e.
related
to
light
capture
nutrient
uptake)
did
not
find
strong
coordination,
specific
length
area
correlated.
further
site
explained
between
0
7%
the
total
variation,
within-site
variation
contributed
substantially
a
large
number
(1.6–96%),
more
so
morphological
than
traits.
This
likely
influences
strength
found
species
our
study.
Understanding
sources
relationships
can
contribute
improving
global
regional
C
cycling
models.
However,
fine-scale
environmental
variability
should
be
accounted
given
its
importance
driving
variation.
New Phytologist,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
233(4), P. 1620 - 1635
Published: Nov. 11, 2021
The
concept
of
a
root
economics
space
(RES)
is
increasingly
adopted
to
explore
trait
variation
and
belowground
resource-acquisition
strategies.
Much
progress
has
been
made
on
interactions
morphology
mycorrhizal
symbioses.
However,
exudation,
with
significant
carbon
(C)
cost
(c.
5-21%
total
photosynthetically
fixed
C)
enhance
resource
acquisition,
remains
missing
link
in
this
RES.
Here,
we
argue
that
incorporating
exudation
into
the
structure
RES
key
holistic
understanding
soil
nutrient
acquisition.
We
highlight
different
functional
roles
exudates
phosphorus
(P)
nitrogen
(N)
Thereafter,
synthesize
emerging
evidence
illustrates
how
interacts
symbioses
at
level
species
individual
plant
contrasting
patterns
evolved
P-impoverished
vs
N-limited
environments.
Finally,
propose
new
conceptual
framework,
integrating
three
groups
traits
better
capture
complexity
Such
deeper
integrated
dynamic
morphology,
will
provide
valuable
insights
mechanisms
underlying
coexistence
for
sustainable
managed
systems.
New Phytologist,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
234(6), P. 1929 - 1944
Published: March 26, 2022
Feedback
between
plants
and
soil
microbial
communities
can
be
a
powerful
driver
of
vegetation
dynamics.
Plants
elicit
changes
in
the
microbiome
that
either
promote
or
suppress
conspecifics
at
same
location,
thereby
regulating
population
density-dependence
species
co-existence.
Such
effects
are
often
attributed
to
accumulation
host-specific
antagonistic
beneficial
microbiota
rhizosphere.
However,
identity
host-specificity
taxa
involved
rarely
empirically
assessed.
Here
we
review
evidence
for
plant-associated
microbes
propose
specific
plant-soil
feedbacks
also
driven
by
generalists.
We
outline
potential
mechanisms
which
generalist
pathogens,
mutualists
decomposers
generate
differential
on
plant
hosts
synthesize
existing
predict
these
as
function
investments
into
defence,
dispersal.
Importantly,
capacity
drive
depends
not
only
traits
individual
but
phylogenetic
functional
diversity
communities.
Identifying
factors
specialization
generalism
plant-microbial
interactions
modulate
impact
performance
will
advance
our
understanding
underlying
feedback
ways
it
contributes
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: March 7, 2024
Abstract
Plant
diversity
effects
on
community
productivity
often
increase
over
time.
Whether
the
strengthening
of
is
caused
by
temporal
shifts
in
species-level
overyielding
(i.e.,
higher
diverse
communities
compared
with
monocultures)
remains
unclear.
Here,
using
data
from
65
grassland
and
forest
biodiversity
experiments,
we
show
that
strength
at
scale
underpinned
changes
species
yield.
These
trends
are
shaped
plant
ecological
strategies,
which
can
be
quantitatively
delimited
functional
traits.
In
grasslands,
was
associated
increasing
biomass
resource-conservative
time,
characterized
fast
resource
acquisition
either
decreasing
or
increasing.
forests,
differ
when
considering
above-
versus
belowground
strategies.
Overyielding
stem
growth
decreased
for
high
light
capture
capacity
but
increased
those
soil
capacity.
Our
results
imply
a
different,
potentially
complementary,
strategies
beneficial
maintaining
time
both
ecosystems.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: Feb. 10, 2024
Abstract
Organismal
functional
strategies
form
a
continuum
from
slow-
to
fast-growing
organisms,
in
response
common
drivers
such
as
resource
availability
and
disturbance.
However,
whether
there
is
synchronisation
of
these
at
the
entire
community
level
unclear.
Here,
we
combine
trait
data
for
>2800
above-
belowground
taxa
14
trophic
guilds
spanning
disturbance
gradient
German
grasslands.
The
results
indicate
that
most
consistently
respond
through
both
direct
trophically
mediated
effects,
resulting
‘slow-fast’
axis
community.
Using
15
indicators
carbon
nutrient
fluxes,
biomass
production
decomposition,
also
show
fast
communities
are
associated
with
faster
rates
ecosystem
functioning.
These
findings
demonstrate
‘slow’
‘fast’
can
be
manifested
whole
communities,
opening
new
avenues
ecosystem-level
classification.
New Phytologist,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
241(6), P. 2410 - 2422
Published: Jan. 12, 2024
Summary
Uncertainty
persists
within
trait‐based
ecology,
partly
because
few
studies
assess
multiple
axes
of
functional
variation
and
their
effect
on
plant
performance.
For
55
species
from
two
semiarid
grasslands,
we
quantified:
(1)
covariation
between
economic
traits
leaves
absorptive
roots,
(2)
among
traits,
height,
leaf
size,
seed
mass,
(3)
relationships
these
species'
abundance.
Pairs
analogous
root
were
at
least
weakly
positively
correlated
(e.g.
specific
area
(SLA)
length
(SRL)).
Two
pairs
such
N
content
DMC
moderately
(
r
>
0.5)
whether
grouped
by
site,
taxonomic
group
growth
form,
or
life
history.
Root
diameter
was
with
mass
for
all
groups
except
annuals
monocots.
Species
higher
dry
matter
(LDMC)
tended
to
be
more
abundant
=
0.63).
Annuals
larger
seeds
0.69).
Compared
global‐scale
syntheses
many
observations
mesic
ecosystems,
observed
stronger
correlations
weaker
SLA
N,
SRL
N.
In
persistence
may
require
coordination
above‐
belowground
dense
tissues
facilitate
dominance.
Ecology Letters,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
27(3)
Published: March 1, 2024
Abstract
Trait‐based
ecology
has
already
revealed
main
independent
axes
of
trait
variation
defining
spaces
that
summarize
plant
adaptive
strategies,
but
often
ignoring
intraspecific
variability
(ITV).
By
using
empirical
ITV‐level
data
for
two
dimensions
leaf
form
and
function
167
species
across
five
habitat
types
(coastal
dunes,
forests,
grasslands,
heathlands,
wetlands)
in
the
Italian
peninsula,
we
found
ITV:
(i)
rotated
define
space;
(ii)
increased
variance
explained
by
these
(iii)
affected
functional
structure
target
space.
However,
magnitude
effects
was
rather
small
depended
on
type.
Our
results
reinforce
idea
ITV
is
context‐dependent,
calling
careful
extrapolations
patterns
traits
spatial
scales.
Importantly,
our
study
provides
a
framework
can
be
used
to
start
integrating
into
space
analyses.
New Phytologist,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
235(5), P. 1701 - 1718
Published: June 15, 2022
Summary
Ericoid
mycorrhizal
(ErM)
shrubs
commonly
occur
in
forest
understories
and
could
therefore
alter
arbuscular
(AM)
and/or
ectomycorrhizal
(EcM)
tree
effects
on
soil
carbon
nitrogen
dynamics.
Specifically,
ErM
fungi
have
extensive
organic
matter
decay
capabilities,
plant
fungal
tissues
high
concentrations
of
secondary
compounds
that
can
form
persistent
complexes
the
soil.
Together,
these
traits
contribute
to
accumulation
inorganic
nutrient
limitation.
These
also
differ
AM‐
vs
EcM‐dominated
stands
at
multiple
scales
within
among
biomes
by,
for
instance,
altering
guild
interactions.
Most
work
forests
has
been
conducted
boreal
dominated
by
EcM
trees.
However,
plants
c.
96,
69
29%
boreal,
temperate
tropical
forests,
respectively.
Within
montane
be
particularly
pronounced
because
their
are
more
distinct
from
AM
than
Because
function
as
free‐living
saprotrophs,
they
resilient
disturbances
obligate
symbionts.
Further
consideration
improve
our
understanding
how
cooccurring
types
interact
collectively
affect
dynamics
under
changing
conditions.
New Phytologist,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
234(5), P. 1639 - 1653
Published: March 4, 2022
Summary
The
root
economics
space
(RES)
is
multidimensional
and
largely
shaped
by
belowground
biotic
abiotic
influences.
However,
how
root–fungal
symbioses
edaphic
fertility
drive
this
complexity
remains
unclear.
Here,
we
measured
absorptive
traits
of
112
tree
species
in
temperate
subtropical
forests
China,
including
linked
to
functional
differences
between
arbuscular
mycorrhizal
(AM)
ectomycorrhizal
(ECM)
hosts.
Our
data,
from
known
species,
revealed
a
‘fungal‐symbiosis’
dimension
distinguishing
AM
ECM
species.
This
divergence
likely
resulted
the
contrasting
evolutionary
development
vs
associations.
Increased
tissue
cortical
facilitates
symbiosis,
whereas
increased
branching
favours
symbiosis.
Irrespective
type,
‘root‐lifespan’
reflecting
aspects
construction
cost
defence
was
controlled
variation
specific
length
density,
which
fully
independent
nitrogen
content.
Within
function‐based
RES,
observed
substantial
covariation
axes
with
soil
phosphorus
nitrate
levels,
highlighting
role
played
these
two
nutrient
acquisition
conservation.
Overall,
our
findings
demonstrate
importance
evolved
symbiosis
pathway
framing
provide
theoretical
mechanistic
insights
into
economics.
Journal of Ecology,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
111(4), P. 875 - 888
Published: Jan. 19, 2023
Abstract
Plants
live
in
association
with
a
diversity
of
soil
microorganisms,
which
are
extremely
important
affecting
plant
growth
and
biogeochemical
cycling.
By
adopting
trait‐based
approaches,
we
explored
the
linkages
between
rhizosphere
microbial
activity
resource
acquisition
strategy
above‐
below‐ground
across
range
tree
species
subtropical
evergreen
mixed
forest.
The
activities
were
represented
by
diverse
extracellular
enzymes
relevant
to
carbon,
nitrogen
phosphorus
cycling
organic
carbon
(SOC)
mineralization.
At
level,
leaf
root
traits
mainly
two
leading
dimensions,
that
is,
‘fast‐slow’
economics
spectrum
on
well
aligned
orthogonal
collaboration
gradient
root.
Both
SOC
mineralization
varied
greatly
species.
We
found
positively
correlated
classical
conservation
(especially
above‐ground),
microbes
associated
fast‐growing
feature
higher
metabolism
than
slow‐growing
In
comparison,
independent
root,
it
might
be
an
alternative
exploitative
foraging
nutrients
for
plants.
Synthesis
.
Our
study
strengthens
multivariate
nature
adapting
stresses.
findings
have
potential
improve
our
understanding
prediction
turnover
impacts
cycles.