Joseph Kipkorir Sigi Lang'at
Species mixing boosts root yield in mangrove trees
Lang'at, Joseph Kipkorir Sigi; Kirui, Bernard K Y; Skov, Martin W; Kairo, James G; Mencuccini, Maurizio; Huxham, Mark
Authors
Bernard K Y Kirui
Martin W Skov
James G Kairo
Maurizio Mencuccini
Prof Mark Huxham M.Huxham@napier.ac.uk
Professor
Abstract
Enhanced species richness can stimulate the productivity of plant communities; however, its effect on the belowground production of forests has scarcely been tested, despite the role of tree roots in carbon storage and ecosystem processes. Therefore, we tested for the effects of tree species richness on mangrove root biomass: thirty-two 6 m by 6 m plots were planted with zero (control), one, two or three species treatments of six-month-old Avicennia marina (A), Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (B) and Ceriops tagal (C). A monoculture of each species and the four possible combinations of the three species were used, with four replicate plots per treatment. Above- and belowground biomass was measured after three and four years’ growth. In both years, the all-species mix (ABC) had significant overyielding of roots, suggesting complementarity mediated by differences in rhizosphere use amongst species. In year four, there was higher belowground than aboveground biomass in all but one treatment. Belowground biomass was strongly influenced by the presence of the most vigorously growing species, A. marina. These results demonstrate the potential for complementarity between fast- and slow-growing species to enhance belowground growth in mangrove forests, with implications for forest productivity and the potential for belowground carbon sequestration.
Citation
Lang'at, J. K. S., Kirui, B. K. Y., Skov, M. W., Kairo, J. G., Mencuccini, M., & Huxham, M. (2013). Species mixing boosts root yield in mangrove trees. Oecologia, 172(1), 271-278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-012-2490-x
Journal Article Type | Article |
---|---|
Online Publication Date | Oct 17, 2012 |
Publication Date | 2013-05 |
Deposit Date | Apr 3, 2014 |
Print ISSN | 0029-8549 |
Electronic ISSN | 1432-1939 |
Publisher | BMC |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 172 |
Issue | 1 |
Pages | 271-278 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-012-2490-x |
Keywords | Root biomass; Overyielding; Mangrove forests; Species richness; Ecosystem function; |
Public URL | http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/6714 |
Publisher URL | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00442-012-2490-x |
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