Data from: Fine-root exploitation strategies differ in tropical old-growth and logged-over forests in Ghana

Understanding the changes in root exploitation strategies during post-logging recovery is important for predicting forest productivity and carbon dynamics in tropical forests. We sampled fine (diameter < 2 mm) roots using the soil-core method to quantify fine-root biomass, and architectural and morphological traits to determine root exploitation strategies in an old-growth forest and in a 54-year-old logged-over forest influenced by similar parent material and climate. Seven root traits were considered: four associated with resource exploitation potential or an ‘extensive’ strategy (fine-root biomass, length, surface area and volume); and three traits which reflect exploitation efficiency or an ‘intensive’ strategy (specific root area, specific root length and root tissue density). We found that total fine-root biomass, length, surface area, volume, and fine-root tissue density were higher in the logged-over forest, whereas the old-growth forest had higher total specific root length and specific root surface area than the logged-over forest. The results suggest different root exploitation strategies between the forests. Plants in the old-growth forest invest root biomass more efficiently to maximize soil volume explored, whereas plants in the logged-over forest increase the spatial distribution of roots resulting in the expansion of the rhizosphere