title: Below-ground frontiers in trait-based plant ecology.
abstract: Contents 1597 I. 1597 II. 1597 III. 1598 IV. 1598 V. 1600 VI. 1601 VII. 1601 VIII. 1601 1602 References 1602 SUMMARY: Trait-based approaches have led to significant advances in plant ecology, but are currently biased toward above-ground traits. It is becoming clear that a stronger emphasis on below-ground traits is needed to better predict future changes in plant biodiversity and their consequences for ecosystem functioning. Here I propose six 'below-ground frontiers' in trait-based plant ecology, with an emphasis on traits governing soil nutrient acquisition: redefining fine roots; quantifying root trait dimensionality; integrating mycorrhizas; broadening the suite of root traits; determining linkages between root traits and abiotic and biotic factors; and understanding ecosystem-level consequences of root traits. Focusing research efforts along these frontiers should help to fulfil the promise of trait-based ecology: enhanced predictive capacity across ecological scales.
authors.affiliation: Centre sur la biodiversité, Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, 4101 Sherbrooke Est, Montréal, Québec, H1X 2B2, Canada.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laliberté
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable
keywords: community assembly; comparative ecology; ecosystem processes; fine roots; functional trait; mycorrhiza; nutrient acquisition; soil carbon