Data from: Fine-root exploitation strategies differ in tropical old-growth and logged-over forests in Ghana

Understanding the changes in root exploitation strategies during post-logging recovery is important for predicting forest productivity and carbon dynamics in tropical forests. We sampled fine (diameter < 2 mm) roots using the soil-core method to quantify fine-root biomass, and architectural and morphological traits to determine root exploitation strategies in an old-growth forest and in a 54-year-old logged-over forest influenced by similar parent material and climate. Seven root traits were considered: four associated with resource exploitation potential or an ‘extensive’ strategy (fine-root biomass, length, surface area and volume); and three traits which reflect exploitation efficiency or an ‘intensive’ strategy (specific root area, specific root length and root tissue density). We found that total fine-root biomass, length, surface area, volume, and fine-root tissue density were higher in the logged-over forest, whereas the old-growth forest had higher total specific root length and specific root surface area than the logged-over forest. The results suggest different root exploitation strategies between the forests. Plants in the old-growth forest invest root biomass more efficiently to maximize soil volume explored, whereas plants in the logged-over forest increase the spatial distribution of roots resulting in the expansion of the rhizosphere.解析伐木后恢复阶段根系资源利用策略的变化，对预测热带森林的生产力与碳动态具有重要意义。本研究采用土钻法采集直径小于2毫米的细根，以量化细根生物量、构型及形态性状，进而明确两种林分的根系利用策略：一处为原始老龄林，另一处为受相似母质与气候条件影响的54年生择伐恢复林。本研究共考量7项根系性状：其中4项与资源利用潜力相关，对应“广域”策略，包括细根生物量、根长、根表面积与根体积；另外3项反映资源利用效率，对应“集约”策略，包括比根面积、比根长与根组织密度。研究结果显示，择伐恢复林的总细根生物量、根长、根表面积、根体积及根组织密度均高于原始老龄林；而原始老龄林的总比根长与比根面积则显著高于择伐恢复林。本研究结果表明两种林分的根系利用策略存在显著差异：原始老龄林中的植物会更高效地分配根系生物量，以最大化其探查的土壤体积；而择伐恢复林中的植物则通过提升根系的空间分布，实现根际范围的扩张。