Background:Metabolic scaling theory predicts that plant productivity and biomass are both size-dependent.However,this theory has not yet been tested in plant roots.Methods:In this study,we tested how metabolic scaling...Background:Metabolic scaling theory predicts that plant productivity and biomass are both size-dependent.However,this theory has not yet been tested in plant roots.Methods:In this study,we tested how metabolic scaling occurs in plants using a comprehensive plant root dataset made up of 1016 observations from natural habitats.We generated metabolic scaling exponents by logtransformation of root productivity versus biomass.Results:Results showed that the metabolic scaling exponents of fine root(<2mm in diameter)productivity versus biomass were close to 1.0 for all ecosystem types and functional groups.Scaling exponents decreased in coarse roots(>2mm in diameter).Conclusions:We found isometric metabolic scaling in fine roots,a metabolically active organ similar to seedlings or saplings.Our findings also indicate a shift in metabolic scaling during plant development.Overall,our study supports the absence of any unified single constant scaling exponent for metabolism-biomass relationships in terrestrial plants,especially for forests with woody species.展开更多
Aims Given the importance of resorption in nutrient conservations,nu-trient resorption should change with leaf age if resorption depends on nutrient content,and if nutrient content changes with leaf age.However,no stu...Aims Given the importance of resorption in nutrient conservations,nu-trient resorption should change with leaf age if resorption depends on nutrient content,and if nutrient content changes with leaf age.However,no study has addressed this issue.Methods Here,we measured N and P concentrations of needles of different ages in two woody evergreen conifer species-white spruce(Picea glauca Voss.)and balsam fir(Abies balsamea Mill.)-to determine the effects of needle aging on nutrient resorption.Important Findings For both species,N and P concentrations were higher in newer needles than in older needles.Nutrient resorption efficiency,i.e.percentage of nutrients resorbed during senescence,also declined significantly with needle age from 73 to 22%in these two evergreen conifer species.The difference in nutrient resorp-tion between old and young needles may be attributed to the size of N and P sink tissues,which is likely to decrease with needle age.These results suggest that needle age affects the extent of N and P resorption in these two evergreen conifer species.展开更多
基金the National Key Research and Development Plan of China(2016YFA0600801)the Hundred Talents Program of Shaanxi Province(A289021701)+2 种基金the Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China(2018JZ3002)the Special Fund from the State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau(A314021403-C9)the Double First Class University Plan of NWSUAF(Z102021829).
文摘Background:Metabolic scaling theory predicts that plant productivity and biomass are both size-dependent.However,this theory has not yet been tested in plant roots.Methods:In this study,we tested how metabolic scaling occurs in plants using a comprehensive plant root dataset made up of 1016 observations from natural habitats.We generated metabolic scaling exponents by logtransformation of root productivity versus biomass.Results:Results showed that the metabolic scaling exponents of fine root(<2mm in diameter)productivity versus biomass were close to 1.0 for all ecosystem types and functional groups.Scaling exponents decreased in coarse roots(>2mm in diameter).Conclusions:We found isometric metabolic scaling in fine roots,a metabolically active organ similar to seedlings or saplings.Our findings also indicate a shift in metabolic scaling during plant development.Overall,our study supports the absence of any unified single constant scaling exponent for metabolism-biomass relationships in terrestrial plants,especially for forests with woody species.
基金This work was financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFA0600801)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31370455 and 31570438)+1 种基金One Hundred Person Project of Shaanxi Province(A28902170)Special Foundation of the State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on Loess Plateau(A314021403-C9).
文摘Aims Given the importance of resorption in nutrient conservations,nu-trient resorption should change with leaf age if resorption depends on nutrient content,and if nutrient content changes with leaf age.However,no study has addressed this issue.Methods Here,we measured N and P concentrations of needles of different ages in two woody evergreen conifer species-white spruce(Picea glauca Voss.)and balsam fir(Abies balsamea Mill.)-to determine the effects of needle aging on nutrient resorption.Important Findings For both species,N and P concentrations were higher in newer needles than in older needles.Nutrient resorption efficiency,i.e.percentage of nutrients resorbed during senescence,also declined significantly with needle age from 73 to 22%in these two evergreen conifer species.The difference in nutrient resorp-tion between old and young needles may be attributed to the size of N and P sink tissues,which is likely to decrease with needle age.These results suggest that needle age affects the extent of N and P resorption in these two evergreen conifer species.