Nature Communications (May 2019)

Nonlinearity of root trait relationships and the root economics spectrum

  • Deliang Kong,
  • Junjian Wang,
  • Huifang Wu,
  • Oscar J. Valverde-Barrantes,
  • Ruili Wang,
  • Hui Zeng,
  • Paul Kardol,
  • Haiyan Zhang,
  • Yulong Feng

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-10245-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Kong et al. use a global trait dataset of 800 plant species to examine the root economics spectrum in relation to root diameter, tissue density and root nitrogen concentration. Nonlinear trait relationships were observed, suggesting allometry-based nonlinearity in root trait relationships.