Plant Traits and Phylogeny Predict Soil Carbon and Nutrient Cycling in Mediterranean Mixed Forests
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Prieto Rubio, J.; Perea, A.; Garrido, J. L.; Alcántara, J. M.; Azcón Aguilar, Concepción; López García, A.Editorial
Springer
Materia
Plant traits Plant phylogeny Nutrient mobilization Soil enzymatic activities Mycorrhizas Mediterranean mixed forests
Date
2023-01-05Referencia bibliográfica
Prieto-Rubio, J... [et al.]. Plant Traits and Phylogeny Predict Soil Carbon and Nutrient Cycling in Mediterranean Mixed Forests. Ecosystems (2023). [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-022-00815-z]
Sponsorship
CRUE-CSIC Springer NatureAbstract
Soil functioning is closely linked to the interactions
between biological communities with the physical
environment. Yet, the impact of plant community
attributes on metabolic processes promoting soil
nutrient cycling remains largely unknown. We
hypothesized that the plant community acts as a
regulating agent of nutrient mobilization in soils
according to the phylogenetic and morpho-functional
traits of plant species of which it is composed.
Rhizosphere soils were collected in autumn and
spring under 32 tree and shrub species in two
Mediterranean mixed forests (four plots in each)
located in southern Spain, and nine soil enzymatic
activities related to C, N and P mobilization were
assessed. Phylogeny and morpho-functional traits of
plant species were recorded and their imprint in soil
enzymatic activities across forests was determined.
The results showed a plant phylogenetic signal for N
mobilization in both forests, while it varied across
forests for non-labile C and P mobilization. The plant
phylogenetic signals were primarily driven by lineages
that diversified through the Miocene, about 25
Myr ago. In addition, leaf traits and plant’s mycorrhizal
type explained soil enzymatic activities independently
from phylogeny. C and P mobilization
increased under ectomycorrhizal plants, whilst enhanced
N mobilization did occur under arbuscular
mycorrhizal ones. The plant community composition
led to a different carbon and nutrient mobilization
degree, which in turn was mediated by
distinct microbial communities mirroring differentiated
resource-acquisition strategies of plants. Our
results highlight the role of plant traits and mycorrhizal
interactions in modulating carbon and nutrient
cycling in Mediterranean mixed forest soils.