Complementary trade-offs between plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi traits across four alpine grasslands along a precipitation gradient in the northern Xizang Plateau

作者：Yu-Jue Miao, Ning Zong, Zhenwei Li, J. Yu, Peili Shi · 发表于：Journal of Plant Ecology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1093/jpe/rtaf058 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions、Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies、Plant Parasitism and Resistance

Abstract The mechanisms of plant adaptation to environmental gradients have been the focus of ecological research, with environmental stresses driving coordinated or differentiated regulation of plant functional traits. Plant resource acquisition involves root trait plasticity and mycorrhizal symbiosis. However, root trait plasticity along precipitation gradients and root-mycorrhizal trade-offs remain unclear. We conducted community surveys along a west-east precipitation gradient in four natural grassland communities (alpine desert steppe, alpine steppe, alpine meadow steppe and alpine meadow) on the plateau in northern Xizang Plateau. Six key root traits (root diameter, RD; root dry matter content, RDMC; root tissue density, RTD; specific root length, SRL; root branching intensity, RBI; and root length colonization percentage, RLC) were measured in 18 alpine plant species to investigate the coordination and trade-offs between root traits and mycorrhizal fungi along the precipitation gradient. Our results showed community-level declines in RDMC, RD, RTD and RLC with increasing precipitation, contrasting with elevated RBI and SRL. Functional groups exhibited distinct patterns: grasses and legumes demonstrated root-mycorrhizal trade-offs, sedges displayed synergy and forbs showed inconsistent responses. Divergent trends in plant root traits and mycorrhizal fungi were observed at the species level. Alpine plants in humid eastern meadows favored root elongation, while those in a...