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22 results for “litter chemistry”
Multiple Element Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems (MELNHE): Fresh Litter Chemistry
Freshly senesced leaf litter was collected during autumn in New Hampshire at the Bartlett Experimental Forest, Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, and Jeffers Brook as part of the Multiple Elementation Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems (MELNHE) study. Leaf litter was collected in October of 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, and 2022 at peak litterfall (i.e., mid-October) during a rain-free period. These leaf-litter samples were analyzed for nutrient concentrations for use in resorption analyses. Besides adding 2021 and 2022 to the previous version of this data package, this version includes updated values for some samples from 2009 and 2010. Some were re-run to check unusual values, and 8 samples from 2010 for which fresh litter was not collected were estimated by analyzing litter samples collected in litter traps in the same plots in that year. These additions and corrections are indicated in the comments section of the data. These leaf litter samples correspond with green foliage samples collected in late July and early August of the same years: the green foliage EDI package can be found at the following citation: Zukswert, J.M., S.D. Hong, K.E. Gonzales, C.R. See, and R.D. Yanai. 2025. Multiple Element Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems (MELNHE): Foliar Chemistry 2008-2022 in Bartlett, Hubbard Brook, and Jeffers Brook ver 4. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/ef3696a753150d0a420fd9009f73b1e9 (Accessed 2025-01-13). These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station.
Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization on Litter and Soil Decomposition: Fine Root Biomass and Chemistry
The influence of inorganic nitrogen (N) inputs on decomposition is poorly understood. Some prior studies suggest that N may reduce the decomposition of substrates with high concentrations of lignin via inhibitory effects on the activity of lignin-degrading enzymes, although such inhibition has not always been demonstrated. The purpose of E145 was to study the effects of nitrogen (N) addition on decomposition of seven substrates ranging in initial lignin concentrations (from 7.4 - 25.6%) over five years in eight different grassland and forest sites in central Minnesota.
Aggregate mesquite litter chemistry following soil-mixing and decomposition in a semi-arid grassland at the Jornada Basin LTER, 2010-2012
This dataset contains litter carbon content, nitrogen content, and associated chemistry data from a litter decomposition experiment at the Jornada Basin LTER in 2010 to 2012. To assess the role of soil-litter mixing (SLM) in aridland litter decomposition, litterbags were deployed in the Chihuahuan Desert and interrelationships between vegetation structure, SLM, and rates of decomposition were quantified. To assess the role of vegetation structure, litterbags were deployed in contrasting vegetation microsites, including grass, shrub, and bare ground microsites. This dataset contains litter chemistry data from the experiment including percent carbon, percent nitrogen, ash corrections, and the carbon to nitrogen ratio of litter in recovered bags. This study is complete.
Litter chemistry and masses for the MELNHE NxP fertilization experiment
The Multiple Element Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems (MELNHE) project studies N, P, and Ca acquisition and limitation of forest productivity through a series of nutrient manipulations in northern hardwood forests. This data set includes litterfall chemistry and mass for litter collected approximately weekly through the fall litterfall season, either composited over the entire fall season or selected from individual collection times, pre-treatment (2009), and post-treatment (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018). Additional detail on the MELNHE project, including a datatable of site descriptions and a pdf file with the project description and diagram of plot configuration can be found in this data package: https://portal.edirepository.org/nis/mapbrowse?scope=knb-lter-hbr&identifier=344 These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station.
Models for rapid estimates of leaf litter chemistry using reflectance spectroscopy
<p>Measuring the chemical traits of leaf litter is important for understanding plants' roles in nutrient cycles, including through nutrient resorption and litter decomposition, but conventional leaf trait measurements are often destructive and labor-intensive. Here, we develop and evaluate the performance of partial least-squares regression (PLSR) models that use reflectance spectra of intact or ground leaves to estimate leaf litter traits, including carbon and nitrogen concentration, carbon fractions, and leaf mass per area (LMA). Our analyses included more than 300 samples of senesced foliage from 11 species of temperate trees, including needleleaf and broadleaf species. Across all samples, we could predict each trait with moderate-to-high accuracy from both intact-leaf litter spectra (validation <em>R<sup>2</sup></em> = 0.543-0.941; %RMSE = 7.49-18.5) and ground-leaf litter spectra (validation <em>R<sup>2</sup></em> = 0.491-0.946; %RMSE = 7.00-19.5). Notably, intact-leaf spectra yielded better predictions of LMA. Our results support the feasibility of building models to estimate multiple chemical traits from leaf litter of a range of species. In particular, the success of intact-leaf spectral models allows non-destructive trait estimation in a matter of seconds, which could enable researchers to measure the same leaves over time in studies of nutrient resorption.</p>
Spectral and trait data for Rapid estimates of leaf litter chemistry using reflectance spectroscopy
<p>Measuring the chemical traits of leaf litter is important for understanding plants' roles in nutrient cycles, including through nutrient resorption and litter decomposition, but conventional leaf trait measurements are often destructive and labor-intensive. Here, we develop and evaluate the performance of partial least-squares regression (PLSR) models that use reflectance spectra of intact or ground leaves to estimate leaf litter traits, including carbon and nitrogen concentration, carbon fractions, and leaf mass per area (LMA). Our analyses included more than 300 samples of senesced foliage from 11 species of temperate trees, including needleleaf and broadleaf species. Across all samples, we could predict each trait with moderate-to-high accuracy from both intact-leaf litter spectra (validation <em>R<sup>2</sup></em> = 0.543-0.941; %RMSE = 7.49-18.5) and ground-leaf litter spectra (validation <em>R<sup>2</sup></em> = 0.491-0.946; %RMSE = 7.00-19.5). Notably, intact-leaf spectra yielded better predictions of LMA. Our results support the feasibility of building models to estimate multiple chemical traits from leaf litter of a range of species. In particular, the success of intact-leaf spectral models allows non-destructive trait estimation in a matter of seconds, which could enable researchers to measure the same leaves over time in studies of nutrient resorption.</p>
Models for Rapid estimates of leaf litter chemistry using reflectance spectroscopy
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Spectral and trait data for Rapid estimates of leaf litter chemistry using reflectance spectroscopy
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Soil and litter chemistry, soil microbial communities and litter decomposition from tropical forest and oil palm
<b>Description: </b><p>A study examining the interactions between soil chemistry, litter chemistry and soil microbial decomposers as controls on rates of litter decomposition across a tropical land use disturbance gradient. Co-located soil and litter samples were collected from old growth forest, moderately logged forest, heavily logged forest and oil palm plantations. Soil and litter were chemically characterised and soil bacterial and fungal community composition and abundance were measured. These were then combined in fully factorial ex-situ microcosms and measured litter decomposition rates at 3 time points during different stages of decomposition.</p><p><b>Project: </b>This dataset was collected as part of the following SAFE research project: <a href="https://www.safeproject.net/projects/project_view/124"><b>Biodiversity and land-use impacts on tropical ecosystem function (BALI): Quantifying biogeochemistry across forest disturbance gradients in Sabah</b></a></p><p><b>Funding: </b>These data were collected as part of research funded by: </p><ul><li>UK NERC-funded Biodiversity And Land-use Impacts on Tropical Ecosystem Function (BALI) consortium (Standard grant, NE/K016377/1)</li></ul><p>This dataset is released under the CC-BY 4.0 licence, requiring that you cite the dataset in any outputs, but has the additional condition that you acknowledge the contribution of these funders in any outputs.</p><p></p><p><b>Permits: </b>These data were collected under permit from the following authorities:</p><ul><li>Sabah Biodiversity Centre (Research licence JKM/MBS.1000-2/2 JLD.5 (20))</li><li>Sabah Biodiversity Centre (Export licence JKM/MBS.1000-2/3 JLD.2 (70))</li></ul><p></p><p><b>XML metadata: </b>GEMINI compliant metadata for this dataset is available <a href="https://www.safeproject.net/datasets/xml_metadata?id=3929632">here</a></p><p><b>Files: </b>This consists of 1 file: SAFE_Dataset.xlsx</p><p><b>SAFE_Dataset.xlsx</b></p><p>This file contains dataset metadata and 5 data tables:</p><ol><li><p><b>Soil_Properties</b> (described in worksheet Soil_Properties)</p><p>Description: Basic measured soil properties</p><p>Number of fields: 9</p><p>Number of data rows: 20</p><p>Fields: </p><ul><li><b>Plot</b>: Plot name corresponding to the GEM Carbon plot where soils were sampled (Field type: id)</li><li><b>Plot_ID</b>: Plot ID indicating land use as referenced in the Frontiers in forests and global change publication "Soil microbial community and litter quality controls on decomposition across a tropical forest disturbance gradient" (Field type: categorical)</li><li><b>location_name</b>: Name of subplot where soils were collected (Field type: location)</li><li><b>gravimetric moisture content</b>: Soil moisture content at the time of sample collection (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>soil_pH</b>: Soil pH measured on fresh soils (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>soil_N</b>: Total soil Nitrogen (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>soil_C</b>: Total soil Carbon (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>soil_C.N</b>: Soil carbon to nitrogen ratio (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>soil_P</b>: soil inorganic phosphorus (Field type: numeric)</li></ul></li><li><p><b>Litter_Chemistry</b> (described in worksheet Litter_Chemistry)</p><p>Description: Litter chemistry data of mixed forest floor litter, collected, sorted to remove humified material, woody debris and dried</p><p>Number of fields: 20</p><p>Number of data rows: 40</p><p>Fields: </p><ul><li><b>Plot</b>: Plot name corresponding to the GEM Carbon plot where soils were sampled (Field type: id)</li><li><b>Plot_ID</b>: Plot ID indicating land use as referenced in the Frontiers in forests and global change publication "Soil microbial community and litter quality controls on decomposition across a tropical forest disturbance gradient" (Field type: categorical)</li><li><b>location_name</b>: Name of subplot where soils were collected (Field type: location)</li><li><b>Pretreatment</b>: Whether the litter sample was sterilised by autoclaving or not (Field type: categorical)</li><li><b>leaf_K</b>: leaf potassium concentration (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>leaf_Ca</b>: leaf Calcium concentration (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>leaf_Mg</b>: leaf Magnesium concentration (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>leaf_Al</b>: leaf aluminium concentration (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>leaf_P</b>: leaf phosphorus concentrations (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>solubles</b>: leaf soluble cell content (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>hem_pro_cel_lig_rec</b>: leaf hemicellulose, proteins, cellulose, lignin and recalcitrant fibres (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>hem_pro</b>: leaf hemicellulose and proteins (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>cel_lig_rec</b>: leaf cellulose, lignin and recalcitrant fibres (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>cel</b>: leaf cellulose (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>lig_rec</b>: leaf lignin and recalcitrants (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>leaf_N</b>: leaf nitrogen concentration (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>leaf_C</b>: leaf carbon concentration (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>c.n</b>: leaf carbon to nitrogen ration (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>d13c</b>: leaf carbon stable isotope ratio (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>d15n</b>: leaf nitrogen stable isotope ratio (Field type: numeric)</li></ul></li><li><p><b>PLFA_Concentrations</b> (described in worksheet PLFA_Concentrations)</p><p>Description: Phospolipid Fatty Acid (PLFA) concentrations as biomarkers of soil bacteria and fungi. Extracted from freeze dried soils prior to the microcosm experiment</p><p>Number of fields: 10</p><p>Number of data rows: 20</p><p>Fields: </p><ul><li><b>Plot</b>: Plot name corresponding to the GEM Carbon plot where soils were sampled (Field type: id)</li><li><b>Plot_ID</b>: Plot ID indicating land use as referenced in the Frontiers in forests and global change publication "Soil microbial community and litter quality controls on decomposition across a tropical forest disturbance gradient" (Field type: categorical)</li><li><b>location_name</b>: Name of subplot where soils were collected (Field type: location)</li><li><b>Total_PLFA</b>: Total PLFA concentrations extracted from soil samples (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>Fungal_PLFA</b>: Fungal PLFA biomarker concentrations extracted from soils (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>Bacteria_PLFA</b>: Bacteria PLFA biomarkers extracted from soils (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>Fungal:Bacteria</b>: Ratio of fungal to bacteria PLFAs (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>Gram_Pos_PLFA</b>: Gram Positive PLFA Biomarker concentrations extracted from soil (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>Gram_Neg_PLFA</b>: Gram Negative PLFA Biomarker concentrations extracted from soil (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>GramPos:GramNeg</b>: Gram positive to Gram negative PLFA ratios (Field type: numeric)</li></ul></li><li><p><b>Soil_Microbial_Communities</b> (described in worksheet Soil_Microbial_Communities)</p><p>Description: Summary diversity statistics from bacterial 16S and fungal ITS biomarker microbial sequencing. DNA extracted from soils prior to microcosm experiment</p><p>Number of fields: 9</p><p>Number of data rows: 20</p><p>Fields: </p><ul><li><b>Plot</b>: Plot name corresponding to the GEM Carbon plot where soils were sampled (Field type: id)</li><li><b>Plot_ID</b>: Plot ID indicating land use as referenced in the Frontiers in forests and global change publication "Soil microbial community and litter quality controls on decomposition across a tropical forest disturbance gradient" (Field type: categorical)</li><li><b>location_name</b>: Name of subplot where soils were collected (Field type: location)</li><li><b>Bacteria_Richness</b>: Number of observed bacterial taxa from sequencing of 16S marker genes from soil samples (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>Bacteria_Shannon</b>: Bacterial Shannon diversity from 16S Marker gene sequencing (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>Fungal_Richness</b>: Number of observed fungal taxa from sequencing of 16S marker genes from soil samples (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>Fungal_Shannon</b>: Fungal Shannon diversity from 16S Marker gene sequencing (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>Saprotrophic_Fungal_Richness</b>: Number of observed saprotrophic fungal taxa from sequencing of 16S marker genes from soil samples (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>Saprotrophic_Fungal_Shannon</b>: Saprotrophic Fungal Shannon diversity from 16S Marker gene sequencing (Field type: numeric)</li></ul></li><li><p><b>Ex_Situ_Litter_Decomposition</b> (described in worksheet Ex_Situ_Litter_Decomposition)</p><p>Description: Fully factorial litter decomposition experiment. 16 unique soil and litter combinations (4x4) were incubated in petri dishes at constant temperature and moisture and mass loss measured after 31, 105 and 398 days.</p><p>Number of fields: 8</p><p>Number of data rows: 240</p><p>Fields: </p><ul><li><b>location_name</b>: Name of subplot where soils were collected (Field type: location)</li><li><b>Soil_ID</b>: Soil ID indicating which land use soil was collected from (Field type: categorical)</li><li><b>Litter_Location</b>: Location of which GEM carbon plot the litter was collected from. Litter was collected from the 5 carbon subplots as per soil collection and homogenised into one composite sample per carbon plot (Field type: location)</li><li><b>Litter_ID</b>: Litter ID indicating which land use litter was collected from (Field type: categorical)</li><li><b>Experimental_Block</b>: Which experimental block the microcosm was assigned to. N= 5 (Field type: replicate)</li><li><b>Timepoint</b>: At what timepoint the litter was harvested from each microcosm (Field type: categorical)</li><li><b>Mass_Loss</b>: The mass loss of litter relative to the starting mass of 1g (Field type: numeric)</li><li><b>home_away</b>: Descriptor for whether the soil and litter combination in microcosm (Field type: categorical)</li></ul></li></ol><p><b>Date range: </b>2014-10-01 to 2018-09-01</p><p><b>Latitudinal extent: </b>4.6402 to 4.9539</p><p><b>Longitudinal extent: </b>117.4518 to 117.7942</p>
Plant litter chemistry controls coarse-textured soil carbon dynamics
<p>1. As soils store more carbon (C) than the Earth's atmosphere and terrestrial biomass together, the balance between soil C uptake in the form of soil organic matter and release as CO2 upon its decomposition is a critical determinant in the global C cycle regulating our planet's climate. Although plant litter is the predominant source of C fueling both soil C build-up and losses, the issue of how litter chemistry influences this balance remains unresolved.</p> <p>2. As a contribution to solving that issue, we traced the fate of C during near-complete decomposition of 13C-labelled leaf and root litters from 12 plant species in a coarse-textured soil. We separated the soil organic carbon (SOC) into mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) and particulate organic matter (POM) pools, and investigated how 14 litter chemical traits affected novel SOC formation and native SOC mineralization (i.e., the priming effect) in these soil fractions.</p> <p>3. We observed an overall net increase in SOC due to the addition of litter, which was stronger for root than for leaf litters. The presumed stable MAOM-C pool underwent both substantial stabilization and mineralization, whereas the presumably less stable POM-C pool showed substantial stabilization and reduced mineralization. Overall, the initial increase in soil C mineralization was fully counterbalanced by a later decrease in native soil C mineralization. POM-C formation as well as MAOM-C formation and mineralization were positively related to the initial litter lignin concentration and negatively to that of the nitrogen leachates, whereas the opposite was observed for POM-C mineralization.</p> <p>4. Synthesis. Our results highlight the importance of litter chemical traits for SOC formation, and stabilization, destabilization, and mineralization. In our coarse-textured soil, the amount of MAOM-C did not change despite large C fluxes through this pool. The litter chemical traits that drove these processes differed from those frequently reported for fine-textured soils far from mineral-associated C saturation. To account for these discrepancies, we propose an integrative perspective in which litter quality and soil texture interactively control soil C fluxes by modulating several SOC stabilization and destabilization mechanisms. Irrespective, our results open new critical perspectives for managing soil C pools globally.</p>
Soil, litter and vegetation carbon for the 6 simulations performed in CLM5 of "Chemistry-albedo feedbacks offset up to a third of forestation's CO2 removal benef"
<p>Soil, litter and vegetation carbon for the 6 simulations performed in CLM5 (Table S1) of "Chemistry-albedo feedbacks from reforestation reduce climate benefits and crop yields"</p> <p>i.clm5.global_MF_SSP1.h1.2015-2100_zip.nc - SSP126_MF_Land</p> <p>i.clm5.global_SSP1_nolulcc.clm2.h1.2015-2100_zip.nc - SSP126_2015_Land </p> <p>i.clm5.global_SSP1.h1.2015-2100_zip.nc - SSP126_Land</p> <p>i.clm5.global_MF_SSP3.02.h1.2015-2100_zip.nc - SSP370_MF_Land</p> <p>i.clm5.global_SSP3.02.h1.2015-2100_zip.nc - SSP370_Land</p> <p>i.clm5.global_SSP3_nolulcc.clm2.h1.2015-2100_zip.nc - SSP370_2015_Land</p> <p> </p> <p>These simulations were performed by Dr James King, University of Sheffield.</p> <p> </p>
Climatic stress-induced changes in plant chemistry alter the compound-specific degradation of litter during decomposition
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Plant litter chemistry controls coarse-textured soil carbon dynamics
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Data from: Geographic variation of litter chemistry and palatability in an invasive plant versus its native competitor
<p><strong><span>Aim</span></strong><span>: Latitudinal variation in biotic interactions is recognized as a driver underlying variation in plant invasion success and therefore an important issue in conservation biogeography. However, previous studies have mainly focused on interactions between living plants and herbivores, whereas litter traits and detritivory have been hardly studied along latitude or compared between native and invasive plants. Our aim was to compare latitudinal variation in leaf-litter chemistry and palatability to detritivores between invasive and native plants, and investigate which chemical traits determine detritivory and whether they are climate-driven.</span></p> <p><strong><span>Location</span></strong><span>: </span><span>China.</span></p> <p><span><strong>Taxa</strong>: </span><em><span>Spartina alterniflora</span><span>, Phragmites australis, </span><span>Porcellio laevis</span><span>, </span><span>Chiromantes dehaani</span></em><span>.</span></p> <p><strong><span>Methods</span></strong><span>: We combined field surveys with </span><span>laboratory experiments</span><span> to compare latitudinal variation in litter chemistry between the widespread invasive <em>Spartina</em> <em>alterniflora</em> and its native competitor <em>Phragmites</em> <em>australis</em> across their co-occurring range (20.9–40.7°N, ~2200km). For both species, we examined litter palatability to two common </span><span>detritivores (<em>Porcellio</em></span><span> <em>laevis</em> </span><span>and <em>Chiromantes</em></span><span> <em>dehaani</em></span><span>) along the same latitude. We also </span><span>analyzed </span><span>relationships among climate, litter traits, and </span><span>detritivory.</span></p> <p><strong><span>Results</span></strong><span>:</span><span> In five out of nine litter traits, we found latitudinal clines, with little difference between the two plant species in how they responded across the gradient. Litter palatability decreased with increasing latitude, but was generally higher in <em>Spartina</em> than <em>Phragmites</em>. Two key litter traits (C:P ratio and flavonoid content) were significantly associated with temperature of origin and with detritivory.</span></p> <p><span><strong>Main</strong> <strong>conclusions</strong></span><span>: </span><span>There were geographic clines in litter traits and palatability</span><span>, with strong links between climate, litter chemistry and detritivory, in both <em>Spartina</em> and <em>Phragmites</em>. <em>Spartina</em> litter, however, was more rapidly decomposed by detritivores, which could create positive feedbacks, and contribute to the successful <em>Spartina</em> invasion along China's coast. Future ecological restoration projects should therefore dispose <em>Spartina</em> plant tissue or litter off-site, to reduce the competitiveness of <em>Spartina</em> and support the conservation of native <em>Phragmites.</em></span></p>
Plant litter chemistry drives long-lasting changes in the catabolic capacities of soil microbial communities
<p><span>Although </span><span>microbial communities play an important role in explaining plant litter decomposition rates, whether and how litter chemistry may alter catabolic capacities of soil microbial communities remains poorly studied.</span></p> <p><span>During a one-year litter decomposition experiment of twelve herbaceous species with contrasting litter chemistry, we examined the effect of plant litter type (roots vs leaves) and litter chemical traits on the resulting capacity of soil microbial communities to degrade a wide range of carbon substrates of variable complexity (MicroRespTM method).</span></p> <p><span>Litter chemistry impacted both the total catabolic activity as well as specific catabolic capacities of microbial communities. In early stages of litter decomposition total catabolic activity was mainly influenced by the amount of C and N in litter leachates, and litter N, P and Mg, then, later, by lignin concentrations. Some specific catabolic capacities could also be related to litter initial chemistry. Overall, litter trait effects on soil microbial communities decreased over time and the relative importance of traits shifted during the decomposition process.</span></p> <p><span>Our results highlight that litter chemistry is a strong driver of catabolic capacities of microbial decomposers and, whilst its effect fades with time, it remains substantial throughout the litter decomposition process. These long-lasting effects of litter chemistry suggest a persistent control on microbial catabolic capacities in ecosystems with recurrent litter production. Soil microbial catabolic activities were driven by broadly the same chemical traits across leaf and root litters. </span></p> <p><span>Synthesis.</span><span> Such long-lasting effects of litter chemistry on catabolic capacities of microbial communities may represent a substantial indirect driver of the decomposition process. Disentangling the relative importance of this overlooked effect of litter chemistry on decomposition represents the next challenge. We argue that such research line should open ground-breaking perspectives for reconsidering our current understanding of the mechanistic links between litter traits and decomposition rate. </span></p>
Plant litter chemistry drives long-lasting changes in the catabolic capacities of soil microbial communities
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Data from: Geographic variation of litter chemistry and palatability in an invasive plant versus its native competitor
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Initial Salicaceae species litter chemistry:Specialization, maintenance of diversity and ecosystem consequences of growth defense trade-offs in a model system: the hyper-diverse willow communities of Cedar Creek
Cedar Creek includes a diversity of habitats, which support an astonishing number of species (15) from a single evolutionary lineage: the willow family (Salicaceae). The physiological tolerances and abiotic mechanisms that maintain natural diversity in this hyper-diverse system are beginning to be understood; the role of biotic interactions, however, remains a major gap in understanding. We hypothesize that insect herbivory plays a critical role in niche partitioning, providing an important explanation for high willow diversity. Using a replicated series of common gardens and insect herbivore manipulations in resource rich and resource poor habitats, we are testing for evolved trade-offs between defense investment and growth rate. We expect specialized plant syndromes to emerge along the continuum from ???herbivore escape??? via fast growth in high resource environments to ???anti-herbivore protection??? via heavy investment in defense in low resource environments. Evolved growth/defense strategies that promote diversity are also likely to have ecosystem consequences due to foliar chemical influences on decomposition and the composition and diversity of the insect communities they support. The proposed research takes advantage of natural diversity, providing an important model system at Cedar Creek.
Data from: Litter carbon and nutrient chemistry control the magnitude of soil priming effect
1. Plant litter inputs can promote the decomposition of soil organic matter (OM) through the priming effect (PE). However, whereas leaf litter chemistry has long been identified as the primary driver of litter decomposition within biomes worldwide, little is known about how litter chemical traits influence the occurrence and strength of the PE. 2. Here, we studied the effects of 15 co-occurring C3 leaf litters of contrasting chemistry on C4 soil respiration by analyzing changes in 13C natural abundance during early and later stages of litter decomposition (up to 125 days). 3. Besides an apparent PE of 16% in the first three days, soil C respiration was increased by 24% on average with leaf litter addition in the initial stage of decomposition (426 d) and by 8% at later stages (27125 d). Most interestingly, soil PE related well to initial litter chemistry and the dominant factors influencing the magnitude of the PE changed with decomposition stage. In the early stage of decomposition, litter leachate C content and litter hemicellulose concentration were positively correlated with the strength of the PE, whereas tannin concentration was negatively associated with soil PE. Together, tannin and hemicellulose explained half of the observed variation in the PE (R2 = 0.58). In the later phase of decomposition, lignin and lignin:N ratios were negatively related to the PE, whereas Ca, K and Mg concentrations were positively related to the PE; lignin alone gave the best prediction of the PE (R2 = 0.58) at later decomposition stages. 4. Our findings provide evidence that the magnitude and direction of the PE is influenced by the chemistry of organic matter inputs and suggest that, as decomposition proceeds differently among litter of contrasting chemistry, litters can also have variable effect on soil PE through time. The predictive power of litter chemical traits on soil PE opens new perspectives for improving our mechanistic understanding of soil PE and improving our abilities to model soil C dynamics at variable scales.
Data from: Litter carbon and nutrient chemistry control the magnitude of soil priming effect
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