Wong, M.Y., Wurzburger, N., Hall, J.S. et al. (6 more authors) (2024) Trees adjust nutrient acquisition strategies across tropical forest secondary succession. New Phytologist, 243 (1). pp. 132-144. ISSN 0028-646X
Abstract
Nutrient limitation may constrain the ability of recovering and mature tropical forests to serve as a carbon sink. However, it is unclear to what extent trees can utilize nutrient acquisition strategies – especially root phosphatase enzymes and mycorrhizal symbioses – to overcome low nutrient availability across secondary succession.
Using a large-scale, full factorial nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization experiment of 76 plots along a secondary successional gradient in lowland wet tropical forests of Panama, we tested the extent to which root phosphatase enzyme activity and mycorrhizal colonization are flexible, and if investment shifts over succession, reflective of changing nutrient limitation. We also conducted a meta-analysis to test how tropical trees adjust these strategies in response to nutrient additions and across succession.
We find that tropical trees are dynamic, adjusting investment in strategies – particularly root phosphatase – in response to changing nutrient conditions through succession. These changes reflect a shift from strong nitrogen to weak phosphorus limitation over succession. Our meta-analysis findings were consistent with our field study; we found more predictable responses of root phosphatase than mycorrhizal colonization to nutrient availability.
Our findings suggest that nutrient acquisition strategies respond to nutrient availability and demand in tropical forests, likely critical for alleviating nutrient limitation.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2024 The Authors. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Wong, M.Y., Wurzburger, N., Hall, J.S., Wright, S.J., Tang, W., Hedin, L.O., Saltonstall, K., van Breugel, M. and Batterman, S.A. (2024), Trees adjust nutrient acquisition strategies across tropical forest secondary succession. New Phytol, 243: 132-144, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19812. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited. |
Keywords: | mycorrhizal fungi, nitrogen,nutrient acquisition strategies, nutrient limitation, phosphorus, root phosphatase, secondary succession, tropical forests |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) > Ecology & Global Change (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 02 Jul 2024 10:53 |
Last Modified: | 02 Jul 2024 10:53 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/nph.19812 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:214258 |
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