Rooting strategies in a subtropical savanna: a landscape-scale three-dimensional assessment

Yong Zhou; Thomas W. Boutton; X. Ben Wu; Cynthia L. Wright; Anais L. Dion

doi:10.1007/s00442-018-4083-9

Rooting strategies in a subtropical savanna: a landscape-scale three-dimensional assessment

Yong Zhou, Thomas W. Boutton, X. Ben Wu, Cynthia L. Wright, Anais L. Dion

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

In resource-limited savannas, the distribution and abundance of fine roots play an important role in acquiring essential resources and structuring vegetation patterns and dynamics. However, little is known regarding the three-dimensional distribution of fine roots in savanna ecosystems at the landscape scale. We quantified spatial patterns of fine root density to a depth of 1.2 m in a subtropical savanna landscape using spatially specific sampling. Kriged maps revealed that fine root density was highest at the centers of woody patches, decreased towards the canopy edges, and reached lowest values within the grassland matrix throughout the entire soil profile. Lacunarity analyses indicated that spatial heterogeneities of fine root density decreased continuously to a depth of 50 cm and then increased in deeper portions of the soil profile across this landscape. This vertical pattern might be related to inherent differences in root distribution between trees/shrubs and herbaceous species, and the presence/absence of an argillic horizon across this landscape. The greater density of fine roots beneath woody patches in both upper and lower portions of the soil profile suggests an ability to acquire disproportionately more resources than herbaceous species, which may facilitate the development and persistence of woody patches across this landscape.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1127-1135
Number of pages	9
Journal	Oecologia
Volume	186
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-018-4083-9
State	Published - Apr 1 2018
Externally published	Yes

Funding

Acknowledgements This research was supported by a Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant from the US National Science Foundation (DEB/DDIG1600790), USDA/NIFA Hatch Project (1003961), an Exploration Fund Grant from the Explorers Club, and the Howard McCarley Student Research Award from the Southwestern Association of Naturalists. Yong Zhou was supported by a Sid Kyle Graduate Merit Assistantship from Department of Ecosystem Science and Management and a Tom Slick Graduate Research Fellowship from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University. We thank Dr. Chenghai Yang of USDA/ARS for acquiring the color infrared aerial photograph, and David and Stacy McKown for on-site logistics at the La Copita Research Area, and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

Funders	Funder number
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University
National Science Foundation	DEB/DDIG1600790
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Explorers Club
National Institute of Food and Agriculture	1003961
Southwestern Association of Naturalists

Keywords

Fine root
Landscape scale
Rooting strategies
Soil profile
Spatial pattern
Subtropical savanna

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10.1007/s00442-018-4083-9

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abstract = "In resource-limited savannas, the distribution and abundance of fine roots play an important role in acquiring essential resources and structuring vegetation patterns and dynamics. However, little is known regarding the three-dimensional distribution of fine roots in savanna ecosystems at the landscape scale. We quantified spatial patterns of fine root density to a depth of 1.2 m in a subtropical savanna landscape using spatially specific sampling. Kriged maps revealed that fine root density was highest at the centers of woody patches, decreased towards the canopy edges, and reached lowest values within the grassland matrix throughout the entire soil profile. Lacunarity analyses indicated that spatial heterogeneities of fine root density decreased continuously to a depth of 50 cm and then increased in deeper portions of the soil profile across this landscape. This vertical pattern might be related to inherent differences in root distribution between trees/shrubs and herbaceous species, and the presence/absence of an argillic horizon across this landscape. The greater density of fine roots beneath woody patches in both upper and lower portions of the soil profile suggests an ability to acquire disproportionately more resources than herbaceous species, which may facilitate the development and persistence of woody patches across this landscape.",

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Rooting strategies in a subtropical savanna: a landscape-scale three-dimensional assessment

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