Root functional traits: From fine root to community-level variation

Root functional traits: From fine root to community-level variation PDF Author: Iván Prieto
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2832517927
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 169

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Root functional traits: From fine root to community-level variation

Root functional traits: From fine root to community-level variation PDF Author: Iván Prieto
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2832517927
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 169

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Root Ecology

Root Ecology PDF Author: Hans de Kroon
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9783540001850
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 424

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Book Description
In the course of evolution, a great variety of root systems have learned to overcome the many physical, biochemical and biological problems brought about by soil. This development has made them a fascinating object of scientific study. This volume gives an overview of how roots have adapted to the soil environment and which roles they play in the soil ecosystem. The text describes the form and function of roots, their temporal and spatial distribution, and their turnover rate in various ecosystems. Subsequently, a physiological background is provided for basic functions, such as carbon acquisition, water and solute movement, and for their responses to three major abiotic stresses, i.e. hard soil structure, drought and flooding. The volume concludes with the interactions of roots with other organisms of the complex soil ecosystem, including symbiosis, competition, and the function of roots as a food source.

Plant Functional Diversity

Plant Functional Diversity PDF Author: Eric Garnier
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198757360
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 255

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Book Description
Biological diversity, the variety of living organisms on Earth, is traditionally viewed as the diversity of taxa, and species in particular. However, other facets of diversity also need to be considered for a comprehensive understanding of evolutionary and ecological processes. This novel book demonstrates the advantages of adopting a functional approach to diversity in order to improve our understanding of the functioning of ecological systems and theircomponents. The focus is on plants, which are major components of these systems, and for which the functional approach has led to major scientific advances over the last 20 years. PlantFunctional Diversity presents the rationale for a trait-based approach to functional diversity in the context of comparative plant ecology and agroecology. It demonstrates how this approach can be used to address a number of highly debated questions in plant ecology pertaining to plant responses to their environment, controls on plant community structure, ecosystem properties, and the services these deliver to human societies. This research level text will be of particular relevance and use tograduate students and professional researchers in plant ecology, agricultural sciences and conservation biology.

Inherent Variation in Plant Growth

Inherent Variation in Plant Growth PDF Author: H. Lambers
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 608

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Plant Functional Traits for Improving Productivity

Plant Functional Traits for Improving Productivity PDF Author: Narendra Kumar
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 9819715105
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 359

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A Phylogenetic Perspective on Fine Root Ecology

A Phylogenetic Perspective on Fine Root Ecology PDF Author: Oscar J. Valverde-Barrantes
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Angiosperms
Languages : en
Pages : 223

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Book Description
Geoffrey Baylis formulated in 1975 that roots of the ancestral angiosperms were thick, scarcely-branched, and bearing large cortex areas, which was essential for plants that probably had limited capacity for direct nutrient absorption in terrestrial habitats. Over time plants evolved to produce finer roots, increased branch frequency, and developed root hairs, probably to improve nutrient scavenging and acquisition. Therefore, it was assumed that root architecture reflect the degree of dependency of flowering plants for AM fungal associations. Nonetheless, Baylis ideas were rarely tested empirically and there are still important gaps in the understanding of the process leading to the actual patterns in root morphology among angiosperms. Moreover the ecological implications of the mechanisms explaining root trait diversity have not been properly addressed. Throughout this dissertation I tried to expand our knowledge of root ecology by focusing on two important topics: 1) The exploration of the possible steps involved in the evolution of root traits during woody angiosperm evolution, and 2) the ecological implications that these adaptations may play in the belowground interactions of tree communities. The first topic was explored in chapters two and three. In chapter two, we provided compelling evidence that variation is in large measure due to alternative trait syndromes evolved independently among angiosperm lineages. Moreover, our findings indicated that morphology traits in roots were independent from leaf morphology, suggesting different selective factors affecting the evolutionary trends of both organs. In chapter three, I tested the idea that the described separation in root traits among phylogenetic angiosperm groups reflects their dependency from mycorrhizal associations. I extended this hypothesis, providing evidence that the observed root trait syndromes in woody angiosperms reflect different evolutionary pathways that includes the entire root system rather than only the root tips. The previously described trend in root diameter corresponds with decreases in cortical tissue, suggesting an strong selection for reduced habitat for mycorrhizal communities. I concluded that alternative morphologies may reflect different nutrient acquisition strategies possibly related to tradeoffs between direct nutrient acquisition and allocation to fungal partners. In chapters four and five, I explored the role that root trait diversity and species identity may play in the interactions of species belowground in a natural ecosystem. In chapter four, results showed that the interspecific variation in root morphological traits is not related to specific soil conditions. Rather, it seems to enhance the ability of species to coexist in relatively aggregated conditions. Accordingly, in chapter five, we found no evidence for spatial segregation among species. In fact, root biomass variation was explained by both resource availability and phylogenetic diversity, highlighting the importance that evolutionary process may have in ecosystem stability.

Plant Responses to Environmental Stresses Based on Physiological and Functional Ecology

Plant Responses to Environmental Stresses Based on Physiological and Functional Ecology PDF Author: Kaixiong Xing
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 283253788X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 356

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Book Description
Plants require a proper balance of matter and energy to maintain their survival and reproduction. Biotic and/or abiotic stresses in diverse environments could influence plant photosynthesis, water and nutrient acquisition and utilization. Through the lens of plant physiological and functional ecology, the study of responses of individual plant traits and/or integration of plant responses to environmental change has been well developed. The variation of plant physiological characteristics and functional traits has been recognized with hundreds of high-quality papers on topics of plant responses to environmental stresses. For now, despite the increasing number of studies trying to establish a linkage between plant physiological processes and functional traits, these covariations have received limited theoretical and experimental verification. This knowledge gap hampers our ability to understand and predict the comprehensive responses of plants to environmental stresses at different scales.

Vegetation, ecosystem processing and carbon budget of wetlands under global change

Vegetation, ecosystem processing and carbon budget of wetlands under global change PDF Author: Xiaoming Kang
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2832521703
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 222

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Key Determinants of Biodiversity, Ecosystem Functioning and Restoration in Climate Change Sensitive Ecosystems

Key Determinants of Biodiversity, Ecosystem Functioning and Restoration in Climate Change Sensitive Ecosystems PDF Author: Hui Zhang
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2832539971
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 242

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Book Description
Human activities such as agriculture and mining have led to serious negative effects on biodiversity and important ecosystem services including biodiversity loss and climate change. Thus, it is important to quantify the key determinants of biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and ecological restoration of degraded plant communities in climate change sensitive ecosystems (i.e. subalpine and alpine meadow communities in Qinghai, tropical rainforests and tropical mountains). In this way, effective management, policy and methods can be developed to reduce the influence of climate change on these climate change sensitive ecosystems. The aforementioned human activities continue to destroy and degrade plant communities and ecosystem functioning. Climatic changes further exacerbate negative impacts and may trigger rapid loss of species, precipitate decline and changes in the flows of ecosystem goods and services. As the collective anthropogenic influence intensifies, some ecosystems may be more sensitive than others to these changes. Ecosystems that contribute greatly to human well-being through the delivery of biodiversity and ecosystem benefits should be the focus of particular concern. There are key knowledge gaps on the specific nature of anthropogenic impacts, species and ecosystem responses, and possible management and mitigation measures. Comprehensive documentation of these aspects from highly sensitive regions and ecosystems is urgently needed, particularly at fine scales, which is relevant for developing management and mitigation measures. Pathways such as ecological restoration can offset some of the impacts, but even quantifying the impacts of observed and anticipated changes is far from adequate and other mitigation measures must be considered.

Belowground Uptake Strategies

Belowground Uptake Strategies PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789463430395
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 167

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Book Description