![]() ![]() ![]() In addition to their impact on C flux, woody plants can shape the pedosphere through root recruitment of mycorrhizal fungi, recycling of organic material, and litter deposition. These rigid organisms inhabit 30% of Earth’s landmass and contain 50% of the carbon that makes up the aboveground terrestrial biosphere. Woody plants are quintessential to carbon storage and net primary productivity. In addition, root zone macroinvertebrates can potentially limit woody C cycling, while mycorrhizal type does not play a significant role. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest trees with larger root diameters can accelerate C cycling, as can trees associated with certain phylogenetic clades. Despite this, roots greater than 0.35 mm significantly increased woody litter decomposition by 8%. Phylogenetic signals went undetected for tree root morphology. Local indicators for phylogenetic associations (LIPA) determined high values of sensitivity value in Pinus and Picea genera, while Carya, Juglans, Betula, and Prunus yielded low values of sensitivity. Interestingly, there was a phylogenetic signal for wood decomposition. Macroinvertebrate exclusion significantly increased wood decomposition by 5.9%, while mycorrhizal type did not affect wood decomposition, nor did canopy traits (i.e., broad leaves versus pine needles). ![]() Decomposition was assessed as proportionate mass loss, as explained by root diameter, phylogenetic signal, mycorrhizal type, canopy tree trait, or macroinvertebrate exclusion. Macroinvertebrate access to woody substrate was either prevented or not using 0.22 mm mesh in a common garden site in central Pennsylvania. Within the root zone of six predominantly arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) ( Acer negundo, Acer saccharum, Prunus serotina, Juglans nigra, Sassafras albidum, and Liriodendron tulipfera) and seven predominantly ectomycorrhizal (EM) tree species ( Carya glabra, Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Betula alleghaniensis, Picea rubens, Pinus virginiana, and Pinus strobus), woody litter was buried for 13 months. Here, we examined how mycorrhizal association and macroinvertebrate activity influences wood decomposition across diverse tree species. How the root zone impacts plants has been widely examined over the past few decades, but the role of the root zone in decomposition is understudied. Woodlands are pivotal to carbon stocks, but the process of cycling C is slow and may be most effective in the biodiverse root zone. ![]()
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