Alpine root diversity image - wins scientific image competition award
Patrick Möhl (University of Basel) receives a 2021 Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Jury Distinction Award for his image "Alpine root diversity" in the category "Object of study". Patrick Möhl is currently engaged in a PhD in plant science / ecology at the Department of Environmental Sciences in the group of Ansgar Kahmen. His PI is Dr. Erika Hiltbrunner.
Image description
The leaves and flowers we observe in alpine grasslands are merely the tip of an iceberg, as roots and rhizomes account for around 80 per cent of grassland biomass. A look below ground reveals an astonishing diversity of root structures with different colours, thicknesses and branching patterns. Recent technical advances have allowed us to capture the full range of root structures in situ, from tiny root hairs to thick rhizomes. We can monitor root growth and tackle important questions about how alpine plants respond to climate change. The roots shown here were scanned directly through a transparent PVC (polyvinyl chloride) tube at a soil depth of 0–20 centimetres in a typical alpine grassland at 2,500 metres above sea level. After recovering from a five-week summer drought, alpine plants produced more roots.
Jury comment
This image focuses on the soil and on what we usually do not see: a nice, surprising view of the underground hidden network that connects plants. The image depicts the material evidence of structures still poorly studied that enable plants and multi-species communities to communicate via the soil.