IFEVA   02662
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES FISIOLOGICAS Y ECOLOGICAS VINCULADAS A LA AGRICULTURA
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Underground ecology in a Patagonian steppe: Root traits permit identification of graminoid species and classification in functional types
Autor/es:
LEVA, P.; AGUIAR, M.R.; OESTERHELD, M.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
Referencias:
Año: 2008
ISSN:
0140-1963
Resumen:
There is limited knowledge about root morphological differences at the species level. Consequently, plant
ecological groups are largely defined on aboveground traits. Our hypothesis was that roots of graminoid
species differ in morphological and functional attributes. In field and greenhouse studies, we measured
morphological and functional root traits of eight dominant graminoids. Multivariate analyses of root
traits arranged species into two groups. Species were unequivocally classified by either discriminant
analysis or a taxonomic key. Traits that contributed most to identification were diameter, colour, and
branching. Species from one group had large root diameters, more branching, and lower tensile strength,
specific length, rate of new root generation, and RGR than the other group. The grouping by root traits
matched previous classifications: one group had been described as more xerophytic, less preferred by
livestock, and more delayed in phenology than the second group. Our study shows that (1) a set of root
morphological traits may be reliably used to recognize species, and (2) root traits reflect the major
ecological grouping of species, even when they all belong to the same growth form. For Patagonia and
similar sites, our work will open the way to more detailed, specific-level studies on community
underground organization.