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Decoupling the Complementarity Effect and the Selection Effect on the Overyielding of Fine Root Production Along a Tree Species Richness Gradient in Subtropical Forests

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Abstract

The mechanism whereby tree species richness and identity affect the production of fine roots (≤ 2 mm) in forests remains controversial. Complementarity effects (via resource partitioning and facilitation, CEs) and selection effects (that is, dominant of species with particular traits, SEs) are the two hypotheses to explain biodiversity effects on ecosystem functions. This study aimed to (1) examine how tree species diversity affects fine root production and (2) disentangle the complementarity effect and the selection effect on the relationship between biodiversity and fine root production. A total of 60 tree clusters with 15 combinations of diversity gradients consisting of 1–4 tree species (Pinus massoniana, Choerospondias axillaris, Cyclobalanopsis glauca and Lithocarpus glaber) were established in subtropical forests. The sequential soil core and ingrowth core methods were used in each cluster to measure fine root biomass and productivity. Fine root production increased with increase in tree species richness. The biodiversity effects on fine root production mostly resulted from CEs. In the nongrowing season, in most cases, the CE on biomass was positive and became stronger as richness increased, but the opposite situation was observed in the growing season. The strong positive and negative effects of the proportions of C. glauca and L. glaber in the tree clusters on fine root biomass, CEs and SEs, suggest the coordinated action of species diversity and identity in modulating biodiversity effects on belowground processes.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31570447 and 31870431) and the Huitong Forest Ecological Station, funded by the State Forestry and grassland Administration of China. Cong Liu would like to acknowledge the China Scholarship Council for supporting her joint Ph.D. program Grant (201708430137).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, Hunan, China

    Cong Liu & Binggeng Xie

  2. Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China

    Cong Liu, Wenhua Xiang, Shuai Ouyang, Yelin Zeng & Pifeng Lei

  3. Huitong National Station for Scientific Observation and Research of Chinese Fir Plantation Ecosystems in Hunan Province, Huitong, 438107, Hunan, China

    Wenhua Xiang, Shuai Ouyang, Yelin Zeng, Pifeng Lei & Changhui Peng

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environment Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3P8, Canada

    Changhui Peng

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  1. Cong Liu
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WHX and BGX planned and designed the research. CL, SO and YLZ performed experiments, conducted fieldwork and collected data. CL, WHX, BGX, SO, YLZ, PFL and CHP wrote the manuscript.

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Liu, C., Xiang, W., Xie, B. et al. Decoupling the Complementarity Effect and the Selection Effect on the Overyielding of Fine Root Production Along a Tree Species Richness Gradient in Subtropical Forests. Ecosystems 24, 613–627 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-020-00538-z

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