Root community traits along a land use gradient: evidence of a community-level economics spectrum

1. There is a fundamental trade-off between leaf traits associated with either resource acquisition or resource conservation. This gradient of trait variation, called the economics spectrum also applies to fine roots but whether it is consistent for coarse roots or at the plant community level remains untested. 2. We measured a set of morphological and chemical root traits at a community level (functional parameters; FP) in 20 plant communities located along land-use intensity gradients and across 3 climatic zones (Tropical, Mediterranean and Montane). We hypothesized (i) the existence of a root economics spectrum in plant communities consistent within root types (fine, < 2 mm; coarse, 2-5 mm) but that ii) variations in root traits occur with soil depths (top 20 cm of soil and 100-150 cm deep) and iii) along land use gradients thus leading to variation in root FP. 3. Root FP co-varied, in line with the resource acquisition-conservation trade-off, from communities with root FP syndrom...