OOS 1
How Does Plasticity In Root Morphology and Physiology Buffer Responses To Changes In Resource Availability?
Monday, August 5, 2013: 1:30 PM-5:00 PM
101A, Minneapolis Convention Center
Organizer:
Jesse B. Nippert, Kansas State University
Co-organizers:
Ricardo M. Holdo, University of Missouri; and
Troy W. Ocheltree, University of Minnesota
Moderator:
Jesse B. Nippert, Kansas State University
The root systems of plants in many ecosystems have been characterized by maximum rooting depth, but plasticity in root form and function in response to changes in resource availability remains largely unexplored. For many ecosystems, climate change and/or land-use changes are altering the spatial distribution of resource availability (water and nutrients) belowground, and root responses to these changes have the potential to determine which species persist and which disappear as a function of these novel regimes. Species that show plastic responses (morphological or physiological) to altered resource availability are likely to be better buffered against changing belowground resource availability.
Niche differentiation among species within communities for water and nutrients provides a framework for assessing periods when species engage in resource competition and avoidance. For example, source-water use is often similar among species/growth forms when water is available in surface soil, but as soil moisture becomes limiting, greater competition avoidance occurs. Ultimately, linking root morphology and physiology to functional plasticity will provide a better understanding of potential ecosystem consequences to future change.
1:50 PM
Evaluating the patterns of below ground woody biomass along the Kalahari rainfall gradient
Abinash Bhattachan, University of Virginia;
Paolo D'Odorico, University of Virginia;
Mokganedi Tatlhego, Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana;
Kebonye Dintwe, UCLA;
Frances C. O'Donnell, Princeton University;
Kelly K. Caylor, Princeton University;
Greg Okin, UCLA;
Danielle Perrot, University of Colorado;
Susan Ringrose, Gobabeb Research and Training Centre
4:20 PM
Long-term root standing biomass development in a biodiversity experiment does not show evidence for vertical niche differentiation belowground
Janneke M. Ravenek, Radboud University Nijmegen;
Holger Beßler, Humboldt-University zu Berlin;
Christof Engels, Humboldt-University zu Berlin;
Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, University of Freiburg;
Arthur Gessler, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF);
Annette Gockele, University of Freiburg;
Enrica de Luca, University of Zurich;
Wolfgang W. Weisser, Technical University of Munich;
Hans de Kroon, Radboud University;
Alexandra Weigelt, University of Leipzig;
Liesje Mommer, Wageningen University
phone 202-833-8773
