Lake Taupo Forest Experiment (New Zealand)
This experiment was set up in July 2024 in the Lake Taupō Forest, North Island, New Zealand. The main objective is to understand the mechanisms of nutrient flow and retention in multispecies forest plantations with mixed mycorrhizal strategies, and to explore how these aboveground-belowground interactions can enhance forest productivity, nutrient cycling and biodiversity.
Design
The experiment comprises four exotic gymnosperm tree species: two that develop associations with ectomycorrhiza (EM) and two that develop associations with arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). Species were planted in monocultures (n = 4) and 2-species (n = 5), 3-species (n = 4) and 4-species (n = 1) mixtures at evenness levels of 1:1, 3:1, 2:1:1, 1:1:1:1. At each of the tree diversity levels, communities with only AM, with only EM, or with mixtures of both tree species groups were established. The 14 treatments were randomly distributed within three blocks at each site. Plots measure 24 m x 24 m, comprising 36 inner measure trees using four species. Trees are planted at 4 m x 3 m spacing. Each plot has a subplot planted at 2.5 m x 2.5 m spacing. Each plot is surrounded by a buffer of 24 trees using the same species ratio and spacing (note: some Sequoiadendron giganteum buffer trees were substituted with Sequoia sempervirens due to a national supply issue in 2024). The area outside the trial is planted in production Pinus radiata forest.
Site characteristics
| Lake Taupō Forest | |
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Biome | temperate |
| Latitude | -38.990722650199999 |
| Longitude | 175.91980826671599 |
| Soil type | Orthic Podzol (Humose Orthic Podzols) /Orthic Pumice (Podzolic Orthic Pumice Soils) |
| Former land use | forestry (Pinus radiata) |
| Altitude | 470-560 m |
| Design | regular alternate |
| Plot shape | square |
| Plot size (m^2) | 576 m² |
| Plant distance (m) | variable (3 x 4 m, 2.5 x 2.5 m) |
| Number of trees planted | 7560 |
| Planting date | July 2023 |
| Diversity variables | species richness mycorrhizal type |
| Diversity gradient | 1, 2, 3, 4 sp; AM, EM, AM+EM |
| Size species pool | 4 |
| Species pool | Pinus radiata Cryptomeria japonica Abies vejarii Sequoiadendron giganteum |
| Contact person | Matthew Scott |
| matt.scott@scionresearch.com |
Research
Studies will test how biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships differ among tree communities of different mycorrhizal strategies. We aim to explore the mechanisms of nutrient flow and retention in multispecies forest plantations and how aboveground-belowground interactions affect forest productivity, tree growth and health, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and soil trophic interactions.
Extra information
For more information on the experiment, send an e-mail to the contact person (Matthew B. Scott) or explore the publications that utilized data from this experiment
Research papers
- This experiment is working hard on the first international publications