Belowground plant traits and their ecosystem functions along aridity gradients in grasslands

Abstract Ecosystem responses to environmental change are usually studied solely using aboveground (usually leaf) traits. However, belowground plant traits, such as fine roots and coarse organs, likely play a crucial role in ecosystem response, especially under aridifcation. We conducted literature survey on traits along aridity gradients temperate grasslands propose which effect might be connected with abrupt vegetation changes that would occur aridification due change. With increasing aridity, seasonal regeneration decreasingly relies recruitment from the bud bank increasingly seeds. This leads greater inter-annual variability biomass production. Other bearing organs root distribution soil, also shifts gradient. As aridifcation begins, we plants become more conservative their producing lower amounts of litter. Increasing lead loss rhizomatous community prevalence deep rooting leading soil resource utilization susceptibility erosion. Under extreme aridification, perennial plants, except those bulbs, lost replaced by annuals produce low litter use only ephemeral water resources upper layers. Belowground clonal growth banks, distributions, may provide mechanistic understanding behind functioning