Minirhizotron system to study fine root demographic processes

细根生产力占陆地生态系统净初级生产力的33%。我的研究计划取得了显着的进展，在地下生态学，特别是细根生态学，通过研究树种多样性对细根生产力的影响，细根动态与林分发展，以及全球变化对细根寿命和生产的影响。为了进一步推进细根生态学，我建议购买一台BTC-100 X高放大率微型电子照相机系统和必要的配件，以研究物种多样性对细根生产和细根动态的影响机制。拟议的设备将使我们能够了解机制负责增加细根生产力，增加树种多样性和细根动态与森林发展。本文旨在定量研究自然环境中细根的密度依赖性、生态位分化、水平和垂直空间异质性对物种共存和生态系统功能的调节作用。我们期望我们的研究将为理解陆地生态系统中相对未知的地下生态过程做出突出贡献。拟议的设备将涉及培训4名学生。

Fine root productivity accounts for 33% of ecosystem net primary production in terrestrial ecosystems. My research program has made significant advances in belowground ecology, in particular, fine root ecology, by examining tree species diversity effects on fine root productivity, fine root dynamics with stand development, and global change effects on fine root life span and production. To further advance fine root ecology, I propose to purchase one BTC-100X High Magnification Minirhizotron Camera System and necessary accessories to examine mechanisms responsible for species diversity effect on fine root production and fine root dynamics. The proposed equipment will enable us to understand mechanisms responsible for increased fine root productivity with increasing tree species diversity and fine root dynamics with forest development. We intend to quantify strength of density dependence, niche differentiation, horizontal and vertical spatial heterogeneity of fine roots in natural environments in regulating species co-existence and ecosystem function. We expect that our research will make outstanding contributions to understanding ecological processes belowground, a relatively unknown portion of terrestrial ecosystem. The proposed equipment will involve training 4 students.