Effects of experimental warming on root biomass in terrestrial ecosystems

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2021.0195

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Roots are an important organ for plants to absorb soil water and nutrients and can drive multiple ecosystem processes. This study disentangles the effects and underlying mechanisms of experimental warming on root biomass in terrestrial ecosystems, aiming to better understand soil carbon dynamics and inform the changes in ecosystem processes under climate warming.
Methods In this study we compiled data on 611 paired observations from 151 published peer-reviewed articles, and analyzed the responses of several plant root biomass variables, including total root biomass, fine root biomass, coarse root biomass, and root:shoot ratio, to warming using meta-analysis. The responses of root biomass to the magnitude, duration and method of warming treatments, and the warming responses of root biomass in relation to background environmental conditions (i.e. ecosystem types, mean annual air temperature, mean annual precipitation, and aridity index) were examined.
Important findings Simulated warming significantly increased fine root biomass by 8.87%, but had no significant effects on total root biomass, coarse root biomass, and root:shoot ratio. Moderate magnitude of warming (1-2 °C) significantly increased fine root biomass and root:shoot ratio by 14.57% and 23.63%, respectively. While the short- to medium-term (<5 years) warming enhanced fine root biomass, a long-term warming (≥5 years) had a tendency to decrease it. Both open-top chamber and infrared radiators significantly increased fine root biomass by 17.50% and 12.16%, respectively; whilst heating cables significantly decreased fine root biomass by 23.44% and coarse root biomass by 43.23%. The warming responses of root biomass were inconsistent across different ecosystem types. Notably, warming significantly increased fine root biomass by 21.03% in tundra ecosystems. The response of fine root biomass to simulated warming had significant and negative correlations with the background mean annual air temperature, mean annual precipitation, and aridity index.

Key words: simulated warming, root biomass, fine root biomass, terrestrial ecosystems, meta-analysis

WEI Chun-Xue, YANG Lu, WANG Jin-Song, YANG Jia-Ming, SHI Jia-Wei, TIAN Da-Shuan, ZHOU Qing-Ping, NIU Shu-Li. Effects of experimental warming on root biomass in terrestrial ecosystems[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2021, 45(11): 1203-1212.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2021.0195

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2021/V45/I11/1203

Figures/Tables 5

Fig. 1 Global distribution of study sites in the meta-analysis.

Fig. 2 Effects of simulated warming (ln RR) on total root biomass (TRB), fine root biomass (FRB), coarse root biomass (CRB), and root:shoot ratio (R/S). The values within the graphic panel show the sample sizes for each of the variables. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals. Solid circle represent significant warming effects (p < 0.05), and hollow circles indicate insignificant warming effects.

Fig. 3 Effects of simulated warming (ln RR) on total root biomass (A), fine root biomass (B), coarse root biomass (C) and root:shoot ratio (D) in relation to the magnitude, duration and method of warming and ecosystem types. The values within the graphic panels show the sample sizes for each of the variables. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals. Solid circles represent significant warming effects (p < 0.05), and hollow circles indicate insignificant warming effects. OTC, open top container.

Table 1 Effects of simulated warming on total root biomass (TRB), fine root biomass (FRB), coarse root biomass (CRB) and root:shoot ratio (R/S) in relation to mean annual air temperature (MAT), mean annual precipitation (MAP) and aridity index (AI)

根系生物量效应值 Effect size of root biomass	MAT			MAP			AI
根系生物量效应值 Effect size of root biomass	df	F	p	df	F	p	df	F	p
TRB	113	0.235 2	0.603	113	1.110 7	0.187	113	2.597 4	0.110
FRB	360	34.760 0	0.000^***	360	43.652 0	0.000^***	360	16.726 0	0.000^***
CRB	26	0.082 6	0.776	26	1.400 2	0.248	26	3.448 9	0.075
R/S	108	2.766 0	0.099	108	0.103 0	0.749	108	0.109 4	0.742

Fig. 4 Effect of simulated warming (ln RR) on fine-root biomass in relation to mean annual air temperature (MAT)(A), mean annual precipitation (MAP)(B), and aridity index (AI)(C).

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