Root Economic Traits of Populus fremontii in the U.S. Southwest

We used two common gardens planted with Populus fremontii in the Southwest of the U.S. We collected root trait data, including morphological (SRL, SRA, & D), chemical (exudation & NSC), and biological (mycorrhizal association & colonization) traits. Individuals measured in this study were from high- and low-elevation populations. This study aimed to understand how root economic trait relationships in a single species are between two distinct environments. A full and detailed methodology can be found in Schaefer et al., 2024 - Variation of root functional traits indicates flexible belowground economic strategies of the riparian tree species Populus fremontii.本研究依托美国西南部两处种植有弗里蒙特杨（Populus fremontii）的同质园（common garden）实验样地开展。研究团队采集了根系性状数据，涵盖三类性状：形态学性状包括比根长（Specific Root Length, SRL）、比根面积（Specific Root Area, SRA）与根直径（Root Diameter, D）；化学性状包括根系分泌物与非结构性碳水化合物（Non-Structural Carbohydrate, NSC）；生物学性状包括菌根共生与菌根定植率。本研究的测定个体源自高海拔与低海拔种群，旨在阐明单一物种种群的根系经济性状关系在两种截然不同的环境间的差异模式。完整详细的实验方法可参见Schaefer等人2024年发表的研究论文：《根系功能性状变异表明河岸树种弗里蒙特杨具有灵活的地下经济策略》（Variation of root functional traits indicates flexible belowground economic strategies of the riparian tree species Populus fremontii）。