Global responses of fine root biomass and traits to plant species mixtures in terrestrial ecosystems

Abstract

AbstractAimFine root traits underpin terrestrial ecosystem functioning. Despite ongoing plant diversity loss due to anthropogenic activities, our understanding of the effects of plant diversity on fine root traits remains elusive. We addressed: (a) Do fine roots modify their traits in response to species mixtures? (b) Do these responses change with the species richness in mixtures, stand age, and soil depth? (c) Do plant‐mixture induced responses of root traits differ across terrestrial ecosystems?LocationGlobal.Time periodPublication years: 1985–2019.Major taxa studiedPlants.MethodsWe conducted a global meta‐analysis of 852 paired observations from 103 published studies to assess the effects of species mixtures on fine root biomass and traits (including root/shoot ratio, community‐weighted mean rooting depth, root length density, specific root length, mean root diameter and root nitrogen content).ResultsWe found that the effects of species mixtures were highly dependent on species richness in mixtures, stand age, and soil depth. The positive effects of species mixtures on root biomass increased with species richness, soil depth, and mean annual temperature. Species mixture effects on root length density shifted from negative to positive with increasing stand age and soil depth and with decreased temperatures. The effects of species mixtures on specific root length shifted from positive to negative with increasing species richness and soil depth, and from negative to positive with increasing stand age.Main conclusionsOur meta‐analysis highlights that the community‐level consequences of changes in plant diversity on fine root traits are not consistent, and that predicting these consequences requires taking into account the extent of changes in plant species richness, stand age, soil depth investigated, background climates, and importantly, particular fine root traits.