Dongliang Cheng1, Quanlin Zhong2, Karl J Niklas2, Yuzhu Ma2, Yusheng Yang3, Jianhua Zhang4. 1. Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350007, China, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong 999077, China, Section of Plant Biology, School of Integrative Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA and Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process, Fujian Normal University, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350007, China Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350007, China, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong 999077, China, Section of Plant Biology, School of Integrative Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA and Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process, Fujian Normal University, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350007, China. 2. Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350007, China, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong 999077, China, Section of Plant Biology, School of Integrative Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA and Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process, Fujian Normal University, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350007, China. 3. Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350007, China, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong 999077, China, Section of Plant Biology, School of Integrative Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA and Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process, Fujian Normal University, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350007, China Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350007, China, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong 999077, China, Section of Plant Biology, School of Integrative Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA and Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process, Fujian Normal University, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350007, China yysgeo@fjnu.edu.cn jhzhang@cuhk.edu.hk. 4. Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350007, China, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong 999077, China, Section of Plant Biology, School of Integrative Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA and Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process, Fujian Normal University, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350007, China yysgeo@fjnu.edu.cn jhzhang@cuhk.edu.hk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Empirical studies and allometric partitioning (AP) theory indicate that plant above-ground biomass (MA) scales, on average, one-to-one (isometrically) with below-ground biomass (MR) at the level of individual trees and at the level of entire forest communities. However, the ability of the AP theory to predict the biomass allocation patterns of understorey plants has not been established because most previous empirical tests have focused on canopy tree species or very large shrubs. METHODS: In order to test the AP theory further, 1586 understorey sub-tropical forest plants from 30 sites in south-east China were harvested and examined. The numerical values of the scaling exponents and normalization constants (i.e. slopes and y-intercepts, respectively) of log-log linear MA vs. MR relationships were determined for all individual plants, for each site, across the entire data set, and for data sorted into a total of 19 sub-sets of forest types and successional stages. Similar comparisons of MA/MR were also made. KEY RESULTS: The data revealed that the mean MA/MR of understorey plants was 2·44 and 1·57 across all 1586 plants and for all communities, respectively, and MA scaled nearly isometrically with respect to MR, with scaling exponents of 1·01 for all individual plants and 0·99 for all communities. The scaling exponents did not differ significantly among different forest types or successional stages, but the normalization constants did, and were positively correlated with MA/MR and negatively correlated with scaling exponents across all 1586 plants. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the AP theory's prediction that MA scales nearly one-to-one with MR (i.e. MA ∝ MR (≈1·0)) and that plant biomass partitioning for individual plants and at the community level share a strikingly similar pattern, at least for the understorey plants examined in this study. Furthermore, variation in environmental conditions appears to affect the numerical values of normalization constants, but not the scaling exponents of the MA vs. MR relationship. This feature of the results suggests that plant size is the primary driver of the MA vs. MR biomass allocation pattern for understorey plants in sub-tropical forests.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Empirical studies and allometric partitioning (AP) theory indicate that plant above-ground biomass (MA) scales, on average, one-to-one (isometrically) with below-ground biomass (MR) at the level of individual trees and at the level of entire forest communities. However, the ability of the AP theory to predict the biomass allocation patterns of understorey plants has not been established because most previous empirical tests have focused on canopy tree species or very large shrubs. METHODS: In order to test the AP theory further, 1586 understorey sub-tropical forest plants from 30 sites in south-east China were harvested and examined. The numerical values of the scaling exponents and normalization constants (i.e. slopes and y-intercepts, respectively) of log-log linear MA vs. MR relationships were determined for all individual plants, for each site, across the entire data set, and for data sorted into a total of 19 sub-sets of forest types and successional stages. Similar comparisons of MA/MR were also made. KEY RESULTS: The data revealed that the mean MA/MR of understorey plants was 2·44 and 1·57 across all 1586 plants and for all communities, respectively, and MA scaled nearly isometrically with respect to MR, with scaling exponents of 1·01 for all individual plants and 0·99 for all communities. The scaling exponents did not differ significantly among different forest types or successional stages, but the normalization constants did, and were positively correlated with MA/MR and negatively correlated with scaling exponents across all 1586 plants. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the AP theory's prediction that MA scales nearly one-to-one with MR (i.e. MA ∝ MR (≈1·0)) and that plant biomass partitioning for individual plants and at the community level share a strikingly similar pattern, at least for the understorey plants examined in this study. Furthermore, variation in environmental conditions appears to affect the numerical values of normalization constants, but not the scaling exponents of the MA vs. MR relationship. This feature of the results suggests that plant size is the primary driver of the MA vs. MR biomass allocation pattern for understorey plants in sub-tropical forests.
Authors: Hendrik Poorter; Karl J Niklas; Peter B Reich; Jacek Oleksyn; Pieter Poot; Liesje Mommer Journal: New Phytol Date: 2011-11-15 Impact factor: 10.151
Authors: Nasrullah Khan; Rafi Ullah; Saud S Alamri; Yasmeen A Alwasel; Abdulrahman Al-Hashimi; Mostafa A Abdel-Maksoud; Mohammad K Okla; Hamada AbdElgawad Journal: Front Plant Sci Date: 2022-06-27 Impact factor: 6.627