Root phosphatase activity is coordinated with the root conservation gradient across a phosphorus gradient in a lowland tropical forest.

Abstract

Soil phosphorus (P) is a growth-limiting nutrient in tropical ecosystems, driving diverse P-acquisition strategies among plants. Particularly, mining for inorganic P through phosphomonoesterase (PME) activity is essential, given the substantial proportion of organic P in soils. Yet, the relationship between PME activity and other nutrient-acquisition root traits remains unclear. We measured root PME activity and commonly measured root traits, including root diameter, specific root length (SRL), root tissue density (RTD), and nitrogen concentration ([N]) in 18 co-occurring species across soils with varying P availability to better understand trees response to P supply. Root [N] and RTD were inversely related, and that axis was not clearly related to soil P supply. Both traits, however, correlated positively and negatively with PME activity, which responded strongly to P supply. Conversely, root diameter was inversely related to SRL, but this axis was not related to P supply. This pattern suggests that limiting similarity influenced variation along the diameter-SRL axis, explaining local trait diversity. Meanwhile, variation along the root [N]-RTD axis might best reflect environmental filtering. Overall, P availability indicator traits such as PME activity and root hairs only tended to be associated with these axes, highlighting limitations of these axes in describing convergent adaptations at local sites.