Collaborative Research: Linking Leaf and Root Traits to Ecosystem Structure and Function in a Common Garden Study of 14 Temperate Tree Species

自然生态系统是动态的，而不是静态的。例如，植物本身改变了土壤和生态系统的性质。因此，不同植物物种的特性影响重要的生态系统功能，如土壤肥力、土壤发育和植物生产力，从而在一定程度上控制生态系统的功能。然而，由于很难将气候或土壤的影响与植被的影响区分开来，人们对这些控制措施的具体内容知之甚少。为了探索植物影响自身环境的方式，我们将利用波兰14种温带树种的32年单一栽培林的独特共同花园实验。这是世界上唯一一次这样的实验。这项拟议的研究将通过检查地上和地下组织生理学、结构和生产力、凋落物分解和土壤化学和发育，比较和对比叶片和细根特征及其对生态系统的影响。

Natural ecosystems are dynamic, not static. For instance, plants themselves alter properties of soils and ecosystems. Thus, the characteristics of different plant species influence important ecosystem functions such as soil fertility, soil development and plant productivity, and thus in part control ecosystem functioning. The specifics of these controls, however, are very poorly understood due to difficulties in separating effects of climate or soils from those of vegetation. To explore the way in which plants can influence their own environment, we will utilize a unique common-garden experiment of 32-year old monoculture stands with 14 temperate tree species in Poland. This is the only such experiment in the world. The proposed research will compare and contrast leaf and fine root traits and their effects on ecosystem by examining: above- and belowground tissue physiology, structure and productivity, litter decomposition and soil chemistry and development.