The DOI matches its Crossref record; 88 of the 88 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Redefining fine roots improves understanding of below‐ground contributions to terrestrial biosphere processes
Open accessAbstract
Summary: Fine roots acquire essential soil resources and mediate biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Estimates of carbon and nutrient allocation to build and maintain these structures remain uncertain because of the challenges of consistently measuring and interpreting fine‐root systems. Traditionally, fine roots have been defined as all roots ≤ 2 mm in diameter, yet it is now recognized that this approach fails to capture the diversity of form and function observed among fine‐root orders. Here, we demonstrate how order‐based and functional classification frameworks improve our understanding of dynamic root processes in ecosystems dominated by perennial plants. In these frameworks, fine roots are either separated into individual root orders or functionally defined into a shorter‐lived absorptive pool and a longer‐lived transport fine‐root pool. Using these frameworks, we estimate that fine‐root production and turnover represent 22% of terrestrial net primary production globally – a c. 30% reduction from previous estimates assuming a single fine‐root pool. Future work developing tools to rapidly differentiate functional fine‐root classes, explicit incorporation of mycorrhizal fungi into fine‐root studies, and wider adoption of a two‐pool approach to model fine roots provide opportunities to better understand below‐ground processes in the terrestrial biosphere. Contents Summary 505 I. Introduction 506 II. Ordered variation in fine‐root traits – different functions of different roots 506 III. Pitfalls and platforms – understanding bias and improving estimates of root processes 508 IV. Moving forward using root orders and functional classifications 512 V. Can we integrate mycorrhizal fungi with root classifications? 513 VI. Conclusions and recommendations 514 Acknowledgements 515 References 515
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Citations
Cites
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Cited by
Freschet, G. T., Pagès, L., Iversen, C. M., Comas, L. H., Rewald, B., Roumet, C., Klimešová, J., Zadworny, M., Poorter, H., Postma, J. A., et al. (2021) · New Phytologist · doi:10.1111/nph.17572 · Cited by 668
Self-citationRoumet, C., Birouste, M., Picon‐Cochard, C., Ghestem, M., Osman, N., Vrignon‐Brenas, S., Cao, K., & Stokes, A. (2016) · New Phytologist · doi:10.1111/nph.13828 · Cited by 566
Contrasting dynamics and trait controls in first-order root compared with leaf litter decomposition
Sun, T., Hobbie, S. E., Berg, B., Zhang, H., Wang, Q., Wang, Z., & Hättenschwiler, S. (2018) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1716595115 · Cited by 288
Elevated CO2 does not increase eucalypt forest productivity on a low-phosphorus soil
Ellsworth, D. S., Anderson, I. C., Crous, K. Y., Cooke, J., Drake, J. E., Gherlenda, A. N., Gimeno, T. E., Macdonald, C. A., Medlyn, B. E., Powell, J. R., et al. (2017) · Nature Climate Change · doi:10.1038/nclimate3235 · Cited by 281
Belowground plant functional ecology: Towards an integrated perspective
Klimešová, J., Martínková, J., & Ottaviani, G. (2018) · Functional Ecology · doi:10.1111/1365-2435.13145 · Cited by 203
Metadata
- Authors
- McCormack, M. L., Dickie, I. A., Eissenstat, D. M., Fahey, T. J., Fernandez, C. W., Guo, D., Helmisaari, H., Hobbie, E. A., Iversen, C. M., Jackson, R. B., Leppälammi‐Kujansuu, J., Norby, R. J., Phillips, R. P., Pregitzer, K. S., Pritchard, S. G., Rewald, B., & Zadworny, M.
- Venue
- New Phytologist
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2015-03-10
- Volume
- 207
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 505-518
- ISSN
- 0028-646X (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8137
- OpenAlex
- W2160542921
- Cited by
- 1,456
- References
- 88
- FWCI
- 109.42
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
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- McCormack, M. L., Dickie, I. A., Eissenstat, D. M., Fahey, T. J., Fernandez, C. W., Guo, D., Helmisaari, H., Hobbie, E. A., Iversen, C. M., Jackson, R. B., Leppälammi‐Kujansuu, J., Norby, R. J., Phillips, R. P., Pregitzer, K. S., Pritchard, S. G., Rewald, B., & Zadworny, M. (2015). Redefining fine roots improves understanding of below‐ground contributions to terrestrial biosphere processes. New Phytologist. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13363
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