Root Ecology: Toward a Multiscale Understanding of Belowground Processes

Roots are critical interfaces between plant and the soil environment and play a central role in driving biogeochemical cycling and energy flow in terrestrial ecosystems. Beyond their fundamental roles in resources uptake, roots profoundly influence soil carbon-nutrient cycling, plant interspecific competition and coexistence, community assembly, and other ecosystem functions. As root ecology has progressed from a focus on individual traits and organisms toward multidimensional trait spaces, rhizosphere interactions, cross-scale ecological processes, increasing attention has been directed toward the role of roots in maintaining ecosystem structure and functioning. However, a systematic understanding is still lacking of the multiscale variation in root traits and functions, the mechanisms underlying root interactions with soils and microbes, the regulation of ecosystem processes by roots, and the responses of roots to global change and associated ecological effects. Addressing these knowledge gaps is essential for advancing our understanding of belowground ecosystem processes and their responses to environmental change. 

Dr. Dali Guo (1971–2017) was a pioneer in the field of root ecology. Throughout his career, he devoted himself to research on belowground ecology and biological processes. He made pioneering contributions in areas such as root morphology and function, root-soil interactions, and forest belowground ecology. He laid a solid foundation for the development of root ecology in China and trained a large number of outstanding researchers. 

To honor the memory of Dr. Dali Guo, perpetuate his scientific legacy, and advance innovative research in root ecology, the Editorial Board of JPE proposes to publish a special issue on “Root Ecology”. This Special Issue aims to integrate theoretical advances, experimental studies, and multi-scale observations to provide an in-depth examination of root functioning, the mechanisms underlying root-microbe-soil interactions, the influence of roots on ecosystem structure and function, and root responses to global changes, thereby fostering innovative advances in root ecological research. 

Topics:

1. Multiscale variation and coordination of root functional traits;
2. Root-soil-microbe interactions and their underlying ecological mechanisms;
3. Root-mediated regulation of ecosystem structure and functioning;
4. Responses of roots to global change and associated ecological consequences.
5. Theories, methods, and data resources for root ecology. 

Guest Editors:

Dr. Biao Zhu, Peking University and Inner Mongolia University, Beijing, China, Senior Editor of JPE
Email: biaozhu@pku.edu.cn

Dr. Zeqing Ma, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, Associate Editor of JPE
Email: mazq@igsnrr.ac.cn 

Dr. Deliang Kong, Henan Agricultural University, China, Associate Editor of JPE
Email: deliangkong@henau.edu.cn

Dr. Mengguang Han, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China, Youth Editorial Board Member of JPE
Email: mghan@nefu.edu.cn

Dr. Luke McCormack, The Morton Arboretum, Illinois, USA
Email: lmccormack@mortonarb.org 

Submission

All papers must conform to the JPE’s submission guidelines, which can be found at: https://academic.oup.com/jpe/pages/General_Instructions

All papers must be submitted via the submission system, which can be found at: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jpe

NOTE: Please kindly select the special issue “Root Ecology: Toward a Multiscale Understanding of Belowground Processes” during the submission process and make a mention of it in the cover letter. 

Schedule

Deadline for Manuscript Submission: July 31, 2027
Expected Release: November, 2027 

Contact

Journal Homepage: 
https://academic.oup.com/jpe
https://www.jpe.ac.cn/
E-mail: jpe@ibcas.ac.cn