Root and leaf traits reflect distinct resource acquisition strategies in tropical lianas and trees

摘要: In Neotropical forests, lianas are increasing in abundance relative to trees. This increased species richness may reflect a positive response global change factors including temperature, atmospheric CO2, habitat fragmentation, and drought severity; however, questions remain as the specific mechanisms facilitating response. Previous work suggests that gain an ecological advantage over trees through leaf functional traits offer quick return on investment of resources, although it is unknown whether this pattern extends root relationships with fungal or bacterial symbionts belowground. We sampled confamilial pairs liana tree quantified morphological chemical leaves fine roots, well symbiont abundance, determine associated resource acquisition differed between two. Compared trees, possessed higher area, length, branching intensity, nitrogen (N) phosphorus (P) concentrations, lower tissue density, carbon (C), diameter, C:P N:P, mycorrhizal colonization. Our study provides new evidence characterized by rapid strategy These facilitate their change, raising about how dominance might affect ecosystem processes forests.