Species habitat preferences and root trait variation across 65 temperate perennial forbs

Root trait variation is driven by species habitat preferences, indicating that inter-specific root trait variation is a result of species adaptations to different environments. Interestingly, the disturbance indicator value was a better predictor of root trait variation than other, more commonly considered, habitat characteristics. Inter-specific differentiation in root morphology is consistent among substrates and can thus be compared across studies, but root chemistry and allocation data have to be used with caution.