Plant diversity loss has limited effects on below-ground biomass and traits but alters community short-term root production in a species-rich grassland

Kód výsledku v IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60077344%3A_____%2F25%3A00636355" target="_blank" >RIV/60077344:_____/25:00636355 - isvavai.cz</a>

Nalezeny alternativní kódy

RIV/67985939:_____/25:00636355 RIV/60076658:12310/25:43909741

Výsledek na webu

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14488" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14488</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14488" target="_blank" >10.1111/1365-2745.14488</a>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

Plant diversity loss has limited effects on below-ground biomass and traits but alters community short-term root production in a species-rich grassland

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

Many biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) experiments have shown enhanced productivity with biodiversity, often explained by niche differentiation and complementarity effects. Yet, most of these results are based on artificial plant assemblages, with a major focus on above-ground productivity. Consequently, our comprehension of the BEF relationship in natural ecosystem and for below-ground functions remains largely unknown. In this study, we simulated a long-term non-random species loss in a naturally diverse temperate meadow. We created a richness gradient spanning from 1 to more than 20 species per plot, removing the rare and sub-ordinate species from the vegetation. After 3 and 6 years of experimental manipulation, soil cores were collected to investigate the effects of species removal on below-ground biomass, vertical distribution of roots and root traits. We also used ingrowth cores to quantify the short-term root production of plant communities. We investigated the consistency of below- and above-ground responses to species removal. Consistent with above-ground responses, species removal had little effect on root biomass and community root traits, except for a decrease in biomass in the uppermost soil layer (0-5 cm) found only after 6 years. Similarly, the vertical distribution of root biomass and traits was largely unaffected by diversity loss, suggesting little evidence for vertical niche differentiation. Nevertheless, species loss decreased the root production in spring (3 months), albeit this lower short-term root production was diluted after a year, when monocultures of dominants almost matched the annual root production of controls. Synthesis. Our results from a non-random species removal experiment revealed minimal impact of a realistic diversity loss on root biomass and traits, but a decrease in short-term fine root production. These results challenge traditional BEF theory and the niche differentiation hypothesis, suggesting that dominant species primarily determine below-ground biomass structure and characteristics. High diversity may only temporarily increase short-term root production.

Název v anglickém jazyce

Plant diversity loss has limited effects on below-ground biomass and traits but alters community short-term root production in a species-rich grassland

Popis výsledku anglicky

Many biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) experiments have shown enhanced productivity with biodiversity, often explained by niche differentiation and complementarity effects. Yet, most of these results are based on artificial plant assemblages, with a major focus on above-ground productivity. Consequently, our comprehension of the BEF relationship in natural ecosystem and for below-ground functions remains largely unknown. In this study, we simulated a long-term non-random species loss in a naturally diverse temperate meadow. We created a richness gradient spanning from 1 to more than 20 species per plot, removing the rare and sub-ordinate species from the vegetation. After 3 and 6 years of experimental manipulation, soil cores were collected to investigate the effects of species removal on below-ground biomass, vertical distribution of roots and root traits. We also used ingrowth cores to quantify the short-term root production of plant communities. We investigated the consistency of below- and above-ground responses to species removal. Consistent with above-ground responses, species removal had little effect on root biomass and community root traits, except for a decrease in biomass in the uppermost soil layer (0-5 cm) found only after 6 years. Similarly, the vertical distribution of root biomass and traits was largely unaffected by diversity loss, suggesting little evidence for vertical niche differentiation. Nevertheless, species loss decreased the root production in spring (3 months), albeit this lower short-term root production was diluted after a year, when monocultures of dominants almost matched the annual root production of controls. Synthesis. Our results from a non-random species removal experiment revealed minimal impact of a realistic diversity loss on root biomass and traits, but a decrease in short-term fine root production. These results challenge traditional BEF theory and the niche differentiation hypothesis, suggesting that dominant species primarily determine below-ground biomass structure and characteristics. High diversity may only temporarily increase short-term root production.

Druh

J_imp - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

10618 - Ecology

Projekt

<a href="/cs/project/GA23-07087S" target="_blank" >GA23-07087S: Vliv ztráty druhové diverzity rostlin na koloběh uhlíku v ekosystémech v měnícím se světě</a><br>

Návaznosti

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Rok uplatnění

2025

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Název periodika

Journal of Ecology

ISSN

0022-0477

e-ISSN

1365-2745

Svazek periodika

113

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

3

Stát vydavatele periodika

GB - Spojené království Velké Británie a Severního Irska

Počet stran výsledku

10

Strana od-do

662-671

Kód UT WoS článku

001408981500001

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

2-s2.0-85216452661