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Fine-root growth in a forested bog is seasonally dynamic, but shallowly distributed in nutrient-poor peat

Journal Article · · Plant and Soil
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  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Climate Change Science Inst. and Environmental Sciences Division
  2. USDA Forest Service, Houghton, MI (United States). Northern Research Station
  3. USDA Forest Service, Grand Rapids, MI (United States). Northern Research Station
  4. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry
+ Show Author Affiliations

Fine roots contribute to ecosystem carbon, water, and nutrient fluxes through resource acquisition, respiration, exudation, and turnover, but are understudied in peatlands. Here, we aimed to determine how the amount and timing of fine-root growth in a forested, ombrotrophic bog varied across gradients of vegetation density, peat microtopography, and changes in environmental conditions across the growing season and throughout the peat profile. We quantified fine-root peak standing crop and growth using non-destructive minirhizotron technology over a two-year period, focusing on the dominant woody species in the bog: Picea mariana, Larix laricina, Rhododendron groenlandicum, and Chamaedaphne calyculata. The fine roots of trees and shrubs were concentrated in raised hummock microtopography, with more tree roots associated with greater tree densities and a unimodal peak in shrub roots at intermediate tree densities. Fine-root growth tended to be seasonally dynamic, but shallowly distributed, in a thin layer of nutrient-poor, aerobic peat above the growing season water table level. Finally, the dynamics and distribution of fine roots in this forested ombrotrophic bog varied across space and time in response to biological, edaphic, and climatic conditions, and we expect these relationships to be sensitive to projected environmental changes in northern peatlands.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725; AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1376311
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1438624
Journal Information:
Plant and Soil, Journal Name: Plant and Soil Journal Issue: 1-2 Vol. 424; ISSN 0032-079X
Publisher:
SpringerCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (6)

Rapid loss of an ecosystem engineer: Sphagnum decline in an experimentally warmed bog journal October 2019
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Frontiers in root ecology: recent advances and future challenges journal March 2018
High Genetic Potential for Proteolytic Decomposition in Northern Peatland Ecosystems posted_content July 2018
Melanin mitigates the accelerated decay of mycorrhizal necromass with peatland warming journal January 2019
High Genetic Potential for Proteolytic Decomposition in Northern Peatland Ecosystems journal May 2019

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Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Fine roots
Nutrient availability
Peatlands
Root growth
Root peak standing crop
Rooting depth distribution