Biomass and productivity of fine and coarse roots in five tropical mountain forests stands along an altitudinal transect in southern Ecuador
2010 | journal article. A publication with affiliation to the University of Göttingen.
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Biomass and productivity of fine and coarse roots in five tropical mountain forests stands along an altitudinal transect in southern Ecuador
Moser, G.; Leuschner, C.; Roederstein, M.; Graefe, S.; Soethe, N. & Hertel, D. (2010)
Plant Ecology & Diversity, 3(2) art. PII 926393782. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2010.517788
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- Authors
- Moser, Gerald; Leuschner, Christoph; Roederstein, Marina; Graefe, Sophie; Soethe, Nathalie; Hertel, Dietrich
- Abstract
- Background: Data on below-ground production of tropical montane forests along elevation gradients are scarce. Aims: To determine fine, coarse and large root biomass and productivity along a 2000m elevation transect. Methods: In five south Ecuadorian mountain forests along a transect from 1000 to 3000m above sea level, fine ( 2 mm diameter), coarse (2-50 mm) and large root biomass ( 50 mm) were analysed by soil coring and excavation of soil pits. Fine root production was estimated synchronously by three different approaches (sequential soil coring, the ingrowth core method, and the mini-rhizotron technique). Coarse and large root production was estimated by recording diameter increment using dendrometer tapes. Results: Fine root biomass increased four-fold between 1000 and 3000 m; coarse and large root biomass doubled. The three approaches for estimating fine root production yielded highly divergent results, with the mini-rhizotron approach giving the most reliable data, and indicating a significant increase in fine root production with elevation. Conclusions: Our results indicate a marked carbon allocation shift from above- to below-ground towards higher elevations, which is probably a consequence of increasing nutrient limitation of tree growth with increasing elevation.
- Issue Date
- 2010
- Status
- published
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Journal
- Plant Ecology & Diversity
- ISSN
- 1755-0874
- Sponsor
- German Science Foundation (DFG)