Degree Type
Honors Capstone Project
Date of Submission
Spring 5-1-2007
Capstone Advisor
Dr. Douglas Frank
Honors Reader
Dr. Jason Fridley
Capstone Major
Biology
Capstone College
Arts and Science
Audio/Visual Component
no
Capstone Prize Winner
no
Won Capstone Funding
no
Honors Categories
Sciences and Engineering
Subject Categories
Biology
Abstract
Few investigations have been conducted on belowground plant consumption and production due to the difficulty of examining root systems over time without significant disturbance. In most field studies, roots are sampled monthly, a time interval that cannot capture the rapid growth and death of fine roots. The purpose of this study was to estimate rates of root production (growth) and consumption in an upland grassland inYellowstoneNational Park. Root lengths were digitized in four minirhizotron tubes, four times per month (at three-day intervals over ten days) from May - September 2005. I attributed root length that disappeared over each three-day period as primarily due to root herbivory, because previously published estimates of fine root decomposition would suggest much slower rates of root disappearance than what we observed. Average production per day (mm of root length) was approximately five times greater in May and June, compared to July, August, and September. Average daily consumption was not significantly different among months and was approximately 0.8% of the total root length. Temporal and spatial (depth) fluctuations in the rates of production were likely related to aboveground primary production and rates of consumption were related to seasonal variations in soil moisture content and soil microfauna populations. A comparison of rates of consumption and production derived from sampling at three-day and one-month intervals revealed that month-to-month sampling underestimated total seasonal consumption and production by approximately 60% relative to three-day estimates. This study highlights the often overlooked importance of root herbivory in grassland communities and the need for sampling roots at intervals short enough to match the temporal scale of root dynamics.
Recommended Citation
Stewart, Anna M., "Root Production and Herbivory in an Upland Grassland Community in Yellowstone National Park" (2007). Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All. 578.
https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/578
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