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%。我的研究项目通过研究树种多样性对细根生产力的影响，细根随林分发育的动态变化，以及全球变化对细根寿命和产量的影响，在地下生态学，特别是细根生态学方面取得了重大进展。为了进一步推进细根生态，我建议购买一台BTC-100X高倍率微型摄像机系统和必要的配件，研究物种多样性对细根产生和细根动态的影响机制。所提出的设备将使我们能够了解随着树种多样性的增加而增加的细根生产力的机制以及随着森林发展而增加的细根动态。本研究旨在量化自然环境中细根密度依赖性、生态位分异、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对了解地下生态系统这一相对未知的陆地生态系统部分的生态过程做出突出贡献。拟议的设备将涉及培训学生。

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.