Variation of root resource acquisition and conservation strategies in a temperate forest is linked with plant growth forms.

This article investigates how different plant growth forms influence root functional trait variation and resource acquisition strategies within a temperate forest community. Sampling 115 co-occurring species across five growth forms—trees, shrubs, lianas, herbs, and ferns—the study measured seven root traits related to morphology, anatomy, and chemistry. Results showed that specific root length (SRL) and root tissue density (RTD) varied most strongly with growth form, with species aggregating distinctly along a trade-off axis in root economics space (RES) defined by SRL and RTD. Herbs exhibited traits associated with rapid resource acquisition (high SRL, low RTD), while trees, shrubs, and ferns showed traits linked to resource conservation (high RTD, low SRL), and lianas occupied an intermediate position. These findings suggest that growth form-driven root trait diversity enables species to occupy different belowground niches, potentially reducing competition and promoting long-term community coexistence.