Coordinated pattern of multi‐element variability in leaves and roots across Chinese forest biomes

Abstract Aim The elemental composition of plants is of fundamental importance for plant physiology and biogeochemical cycling. Knowledge about how the pattern of multi‐element variability is coordinated between above‐ and below‐ground organs remains limited. Here, we quantify multi‐element variability in the leaves and roots of terrestrial plants, in addition to trying to understand its taxonomic and environmental regulation at large scales. Location C hina. Methods Sixteen elements in the leaves and fine roots of 792 plant species across nine forests located along the north–south transect of eastern C hina were measured. General linear mixed models were used to partition taxonomic and environmental variation. Canonical discriminant analyses were conducted to identify elements with the highest discriminatory power for different plant orders. Results Elemental composition differed significantly between the leaves and roots, with the roots containing higher concentrations of trace metal elements (aluminium, iron, sodium, zinc, copper, lead, nickel and cobalt). A coordinated pattern of multi‐element variability and similar taxonomic regulation was observed between the leaves and roots of terrestrial plants. That is, elements with higher internal concentrations were less variable, with most of the variability being attributed to taxonomic effects rather than the environment. Main conclusions Taxonomic and environmental regulation differed for different elements. Compared with microelements, macroelements exhibited a narrow range of internal concentrations, less environmental control and stronger taxonomic conservatism. The coordinated pattern of multi‐element variability and similar taxonomic effects in the leaves and roots implies that above‐ and below‐ground ecological processes are tightly linked.