Phosphorus Limitation Constrains Global Forest Productivity Directly and Indirectly via Forest Community Structural Attributes: Meta-Analysis

IF 6 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ECOLOGY

Global Ecology and Biogeography Pub Date : 2025-05-02 DOI:10.1111/geb.70048

Ewuketu Linger, Wenxing Long

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Aim

To investigate the direct effects of phosphorus (P) fertilisation on key tree photosynthetic traits and productivity, as well as its indirect effects mediated through forest community structure (tree size, species richness, and abundance).

Location

Worldwide.

Time Period

1990–2024.

Major Taxa Studied

Trees.

Methods

We conducted a meta-analysis of 906 paired (control vs. treatment) P-fertilisation experiments and employed structural equation modelling to examine the impacts of P on seven whole-plant traits: aboveground biomass productivity (ABP), leaf chlorophyll content (Chl), leaf surface area (LSA), net carbon assimilation rate (NCA), belowground biomass productivity (BBP), specific root length (SRL), and root average diameter (RAD).

Results

Our meta-analysis revealed that P-fertilisation increased ABP by 56%, LSA by 11%, Chl by 31%, NCA by 24%, BBP by 17%, and SRL by 26%, while RAD decreased by 8%. These effects were stronger in late successional stages compared to early stages for all traits. The effect of P on productivity decreases with latitude and is stronger in the tropics, while studies on other traits remain very limited towards the poles. P (through duration and P dose rate) influenced most traits indirectly by shaping community structure, particularly tree ontogenetic variations, and interacting with precipitation, temperature, and other experimental factors.

Main Conclusions

Phosphorus fertilisation enhances tree traits related to photosynthesis and productivity, with the stronger effects observed in late successional stages and tropical regions. Its indirect influence is through shaping community structure and interacting with climate and experimental factors, providing global evidence of P-limitation that constrains current and future forest functioning and productivity.

Abstract Image

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磷限制通过森林群落结构属性直接和间接制约全球森林生产力：meta分析

目的研究磷肥对树木关键光合性状和生产力的直接影响，以及通过森林群落结构（乔木大小、物种丰富度和丰度）介导的间接影响。位置全球。时间：1990-2024。主要分类群研究树木。方法对906个配对（对照与处理）施磷试验进行荟萃分析，采用结构方程模型研究磷对7个全株性状的影响：地上生物量生产力（ABP）、叶片叶绿素含量（Chl）、叶表面积（LSA）、净碳同化率（NCA）、地下生物量生产力（BBP）、比根长（SRL）和根平均直径（RAD）。结果我们的荟萃分析显示，施磷肥使ABP增加56%，LSA增加11%，Chl增加31%，NCA增加24%，BBP增加17%，SRL增加26%，而RAD减少8%。这些效应在演替后期比演替早期更强。磷对生产力的影响随纬度而降低，在热带地区更强，而对其他性状的研究在两极地区仍然非常有限。磷（通过持续时间和剂量率）通过塑造群落结构间接影响大多数性状，特别是树木个体发生变异，并与降水、温度和其他实验因素相互作用。主要结论施磷可提高树木光合和生产力相关性状，且在演替后期和热带地区效果较好。它的间接影响是通过塑造群落结构和与气候和实验因素的相互作用，提供了限制当前和未来森林功能和生产力的全球证据。

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来源期刊

Global Ecology and Biogeography 环境科学-生态学

CiteScore

12.10

自引率

3.10%

发文量

170

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Global Ecology and Biogeography (GEB) welcomes papers that investigate broad-scale (in space, time and/or taxonomy), general patterns in the organization of ecological systems and assemblages, and the processes that underlie them. In particular, GEB welcomes studies that use macroecological methods, comparative analyses, meta-analyses, reviews, spatial analyses and modelling to arrive at general, conceptual conclusions. Studies in GEB need not be global in spatial extent, but the conclusions and implications of the study must be relevant to ecologists and biogeographers globally, rather than being limited to local areas, or specific taxa. Similarly, GEB is not limited to spatial studies; we are equally interested in the general patterns of nature through time, among taxa (e.g., body sizes, dispersal abilities), through the course of evolution, etc. Further, GEB welcomes papers that investigate general impacts of human activities on ecological systems in accordance with the above criteria.