Patterns and environmental drivers of root traits across old growth boreal forests

Patterns and environmental drivers of root traits across old growth boreal forests | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 27 June 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Patterns and environmental drivers of root traits across old growth boreal forests Authors : Naomi Vöhringer , Hanna Axén , Anders Ahlström , Gesche Blume-Werry 0000-0003-0909-670X , and Daniel Metcalfe 0000-0001-8325-9269 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175103305.53860315/v1 202 views 164 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract 1. Many key ecosystem functions are affected by plant roots and their traits. However, understanding of the patterns in, and drivers of, root traits lags far behind equivalent knowledge of above-ground tissues, particularly in boreal old growth forests. 2. We surveyed root traits across hydrological gradients within eleven old growth forests spanning a ~7 oC mean annual temperature latitudinal range in Sweden, then related observed variation to environmental conditions and aboveground variation in plant foliar area in the same stands. 3. Stand hydrology did not affect overall mass based root trait values, but appeared to strongly mediate the responses of these traits to environmental drivers across forests. Specifically, growing season precipitation was associated with a significant increase in root tissue density and C:N ratio, and a decline in root specific area, but only in dry plots. In wet plots, mass based root traits showed no response to any of the environmental variables tested. Patterns of plant allocation to resource uptake organs was similarly mediated via hydrology, such that the ratio between root and canopy area per unit ground area increased with greater growing season precipitation on intermediate wetness plots, and decreased with greater soil NH4+ in wet plots. Measured root surface area per unit ground area was much greater than previous estimates from younger boreal forests, and 3.27 ± 0.54 times greater than leaf area per unit ground area recorded from the same forests. Synthesis. Our results provide a valuable baseline for root traits in old growth boreal forests, redefining what are considered typical or natural root properties for the biome and highlighting key environmental controls. Supplementary Material File (root traits_cover page.docx) Download 13.67 KB File (root traits_manuscript.docx) Download 1.08 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 27 June 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords comparative ecosystem ecology plants terrestrial Authors Affiliations Naomi Vöhringer Forest Research Institute Baden-Württemberg View all articles by this author Hanna Axén Umeå Universitet View all articles by this author Anders Ahlström Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden View all articles by this author Gesche Blume-Werry 0000-0003-0909-670X University of Greifswald View all articles by this author Daniel Metcalfe 0000-0001-8325-9269 [email protected] Umeå Universitet View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 202 views 164 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Naomi Vöhringer, Hanna Axén, Anders Ahlström, et al. Patterns and environmental drivers of root traits across old growth boreal forests. Authorea . 27 June 2025. 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