Primary Convener:
Emma Hauser, University of Wisconsin Madison

Convener:
Avni Malhotra, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
M. McCormack, The Morton Arboretum
Shersingh Joseph Tumber-Dávila, Dartmouth College

Chair:
Emma Hauser, University of Wisconsin Madison
Avni Malhotra, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
M. McCormack, The Morton Arboretum
Shersingh Joseph Tumber-Dávila, Dartmouth College

Roots play a key role in biogeochemical cycling, hydrologic patterns, and soil carbon (C) formation across terrestrial ecosystems. However, rhizosphere processes are sensitive to rising atmospheric CO₂, land use and land cover change, changing hydrologic conditions, and other disturbances. Feedbacks between roots, root-associated microbes, and changing soil ecosystems could buffer or enhance biogeochemical change and therefore present a critical avenue of research. Furthermore, many of these feedbacks have little to no representation in land surface models. Given the difficulties of studying and modeling roots, our understanding of roots and their role in biogeochemical cycles is still nascent. In this session, our goal is to synthesize our present understanding of root patterns and processes, their roles in biogeochemical cycles, and their responses to change and disturbance. We invite contributions that expand our understanding of root dynamics, root-associated microbes and processes, and that highlight crucial steps for the future of belowground research.

Index Terms
0414 Biogeochemical cycles, processes, and modeling
0476 Plant ecology
0486 Soils|pedology
1630 Impacts of global change

Suggested Itineraries:
Biochemistry

Neighborhoods:
3. Earth Covering