Underground ecology in a Patagonian steppe: Root traits permit identification of graminoid species and classification into functional types
There is limited knowledge about root morphological differences at the species level. Consequently, plant ecological groups are largely defined on aboveground traits. Our hypothesis was that roots of graminoid species differ in morphological and functional attributes. In field and greenhouse studies...
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2009
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| Acceso en línea: | https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_01401963_v73_n4-5_p428_Leva http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_01401963_v73_n4-5_p428_Leva |
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paper:paper_01401963_v73_n4-5_p428_Leva2023-06-08T15:11:03Z Underground ecology in a Patagonian steppe: Root traits permit identification of graminoid species and classification into functional types Functional types Rangelands Relative growth rate Tussock grasses Underground competition discriminant analysis functional group grass growth form growth rate identification method morphology multivariate analysis phenology rangeland root system steppe subterranean environment taxonomy Patagonia South America Poaceae There is limited knowledge about root morphological differences at the species level. Consequently, plant ecological groups are largely defined on aboveground traits. Our hypothesis was that roots of graminoid species differ in morphological and functional attributes. In field and greenhouse studies, we measured morphological and functional root traits of eight dominant graminoids. Multivariate analyses of root traits arranged species into two groups. Species were unequivocally classified by either discriminant analysis or a taxonomic key. Traits that contributed most to identification were diameter, colour, and branching. Species from one group had large root diameters, more branching, and lower tensile strength, specific length, rate of new root generation, and RGR than the other group. The grouping by root traits matched previous classifications: one group had been described as more xerophytic, less preferred by livestock, and more delayed in phenology than the second group. Our study shows that (1) a set of root morphological traits may be reliably used to recognize species, and (2) root traits reflect the major ecological grouping of species, even when they all belong to the same growth form. For Patagonia and similar sites, our work will open the way to more detailed, specific-level studies on community underground organization. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 2009 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_01401963_v73_n4-5_p428_Leva http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_01401963_v73_n4-5_p428_Leva |
| institution |
Universidad de Buenos Aires |
| institution_str |
I-28 |
| repository_str |
R-134 |
| collection |
Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) |
| topic |
Functional types Rangelands Relative growth rate Tussock grasses Underground competition discriminant analysis functional group grass growth form growth rate identification method morphology multivariate analysis phenology rangeland root system steppe subterranean environment taxonomy Patagonia South America Poaceae |
| spellingShingle |
Functional types Rangelands Relative growth rate Tussock grasses Underground competition discriminant analysis functional group grass growth form growth rate identification method morphology multivariate analysis phenology rangeland root system steppe subterranean environment taxonomy Patagonia South America Poaceae Underground ecology in a Patagonian steppe: Root traits permit identification of graminoid species and classification into functional types |
| topic_facet |
Functional types Rangelands Relative growth rate Tussock grasses Underground competition discriminant analysis functional group grass growth form growth rate identification method morphology multivariate analysis phenology rangeland root system steppe subterranean environment taxonomy Patagonia South America Poaceae |
| description |
There is limited knowledge about root morphological differences at the species level. Consequently, plant ecological groups are largely defined on aboveground traits. Our hypothesis was that roots of graminoid species differ in morphological and functional attributes. In field and greenhouse studies, we measured morphological and functional root traits of eight dominant graminoids. Multivariate analyses of root traits arranged species into two groups. Species were unequivocally classified by either discriminant analysis or a taxonomic key. Traits that contributed most to identification were diameter, colour, and branching. Species from one group had large root diameters, more branching, and lower tensile strength, specific length, rate of new root generation, and RGR than the other group. The grouping by root traits matched previous classifications: one group had been described as more xerophytic, less preferred by livestock, and more delayed in phenology than the second group. Our study shows that (1) a set of root morphological traits may be reliably used to recognize species, and (2) root traits reflect the major ecological grouping of species, even when they all belong to the same growth form. For Patagonia and similar sites, our work will open the way to more detailed, specific-level studies on community underground organization. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
| title |
Underground ecology in a Patagonian steppe: Root traits permit identification of graminoid species and classification into functional types |
| title_short |
Underground ecology in a Patagonian steppe: Root traits permit identification of graminoid species and classification into functional types |
| title_full |
Underground ecology in a Patagonian steppe: Root traits permit identification of graminoid species and classification into functional types |
| title_fullStr |
Underground ecology in a Patagonian steppe: Root traits permit identification of graminoid species and classification into functional types |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Underground ecology in a Patagonian steppe: Root traits permit identification of graminoid species and classification into functional types |
| title_sort |
underground ecology in a patagonian steppe: root traits permit identification of graminoid species and classification into functional types |
| publishDate |
2009 |
| url |
https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_01401963_v73_n4-5_p428_Leva http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_01401963_v73_n4-5_p428_Leva |
| _version_ |
1768542881862123520 |