Dantas De Paula, M.; Reichert, T.; Lugli, L.F.; McGale, E.; Pierick, K.; Darela-Filho, J.P.; Langan, L.; Homeier, J.; Rammig, A. & Hickler, T. (2025): <b>The fungal collaboration gradient drives root trait distribution and ecosystem processes in a tropical montane forest</b>. <i>Biogeosciences</i> <b>22</b>(12), 2707-2025.
Resource Description
Title:
The fungal collaboration gradient drives root trait distribution and ecosystem processes in a tropical montane forest
FOR816dw ID:
2054
Publication Date:
2025-06-17
License and Usage Rights:
Resource Owner(s):
Individual:
Mateus Dantas De Paula
Contact:
email:
mateus.dantas <at> senckenberg.de
Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Hessen
Germany
email:
jhomeie <at> gwdg.de
Faculty of Resource Management
University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HAWK)
37077 Göttingen
Germany
Individual:
Anja Rammig
Contact:
email:
webmaster <at> tropicalmountainforest.org
Individual:
Thomas Hickler
Contact:
email:
thomas.hickler <at> senckenberg.de
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Hesse
Germany
Abstract:
Plant roots have a large diversity of form and function, which is also related to their degree of mycorrhizal association. This is known as the fungal collaboration gradient, where thinner roots acquire resources by themselves, and thicker roots depend on mycorrhizae. In this study, we, for the first time, implement the fungal collaboration gradient in a trait-based dynamic vegetation model (DVM, LPJ-GUESS-NTD). We test if the DVM can predict fine-root-trait distributions and estimate the effects of arbuscular-mycorrhiza-fungus (AMF)-mediated nutrient uptake on ecosystem processes along an elevation gradient in a tropical montane forest in southern Ecuador. The model reproduces the observed fine-root traits of specific root length (SRL) and AMF colonization along the elevation gradient, which ranges from low AMF colonization at 1000 m (25 %) to high AMF colonization at 3000 m (61 %). When AMF-mediated nutrient uptake is deactivated, site average biomass values are reduced by up to 80 %. Accounting for AMF-related belowground traits also affects simulated community leaf traits, suggesting linkages between below- and aboveground traits as AMF promotes more leaf-acquisitive traits. In addition, deactivation of AMF uptake reduced simulated soil C stocks by up to 68 %. The model suggests that the collaboration gradient has a substantial influence on vegetation diversity and functioning as well as soil carbon in the study system. We thus advocate more explicit treatment of fine-root traits and mycorrhizae in DVMs. The model scheme here is based on general trade-offs and could be implemented in other DVMs and be tested for other study regions.
