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Background and aims <p>Growing-season water availability in forests is being altered due to climate change. We examined how the magnitude and plasticity of absorptive fine root traits of six young temperate tree species responded to high versus low soil water availability over five years.</p> Methods <p>Root branching density, root length density, specific root length, and root tissue density were measured on fine roots to 30&#xa0;cm depth in monoculture plots of <i>Acer saccharum</i>, <i>Betula papyrifera</i>, <i>Larix laricina</i>, <i>Pinus strobus</i>, <i>Picea glauca</i>, and <i>Quercus rubra</i> subjected to high- or low- water treatments in a homogeneous soil environment.</p> Results <p><i>Betula papyrifera</i>, <i>Quercus rubra</i>, <i>Pinus strobus</i>, and <i>Picea glauca</i> showed higher root branching density under low water at 0–10, 20–30, 0–10, and 0–5&#xa0;cm, respectively. Root length density of the three gymnosperms was higher under high water, but only <i>Larix laricina</i> showed higher specific root length in the upper soil. Root tissue density of angiosperms showed only marginal and variable responses. Early successional <i>Betula papyrifera</i> and <i>Larix laricina</i> displayed higher plasticity in branching and root length density than late successional <i>Acer saccharum</i> and <i>Picea glauca</i>.</p> Conclusion <p>Higher root branching density appears to be a key strategy for maintaining growth under water limitation, rather than enlarging root surface area via increased root length density or specific root length. Favoring tree species with high fine root plasticity, particularly in branching, may contribute to building more resilient tree communities under climate change.</p>

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Young temperate tree species show fine root trait acclimation to differences in water availability

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月10日

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  • Florentin C. Jaeger,
  • Christian Messier,
  • Friderike Beyer,
  • Isabelle Aubin,
  • William C. Parker,
  • I. Tanya Handa

摘要

Background and aims

Growing-season water availability in forests is being altered due to climate change. We examined how the magnitude and plasticity of absorptive fine root traits of six young temperate tree species responded to high versus low soil water availability over five years.

Methods

Root branching density, root length density, specific root length, and root tissue density were measured on fine roots to 30 cm depth in monoculture plots of Acer saccharum, Betula papyrifera, Larix laricina, Pinus strobus, Picea glauca, and Quercus rubra subjected to high- or low- water treatments in a homogeneous soil environment.

Results

Betula papyrifera, Quercus rubra, Pinus strobus, and Picea glauca showed higher root branching density under low water at 0–10, 20–30, 0–10, and 0–5 cm, respectively. Root length density of the three gymnosperms was higher under high water, but only Larix laricina showed higher specific root length in the upper soil. Root tissue density of angiosperms showed only marginal and variable responses. Early successional Betula papyrifera and Larix laricina displayed higher plasticity in branching and root length density than late successional Acer saccharum and Picea glauca.

Conclusion

Higher root branching density appears to be a key strategy for maintaining growth under water limitation, rather than enlarging root surface area via increased root length density or specific root length. Favoring tree species with high fine root plasticity, particularly in branching, may contribute to building more resilient tree communities under climate change.