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33 results for “litter decomposability”
Consequences of non-random tree species loss on litter mass loss, nutrient dynamics, carbon cycling, and decomposer communities across a terrestrial-aquatic interface at Coweeta Hydrologic Lab, Otto, NC
Although litter decomposition is a fundamental ecological process, most of our understanding comes from studies of single-species decay. Recently, litter-mixing studies have tested whether monoculture data can be applied to mixed-litter systems. These studies have mainly attempted to detect non-additive effects of litter mixing, which address potential consequences of random species loss. The focus is not on which species are lost, but the decline in diversity per se. Under global change, species loss is likely to be non-random, with some species more vulnerable to extinction than others. Under such scenarios, the effects of individual species (additivity) as well as of species interactions (non-additivity) on decomposition rates are of interest. To examine potential impacts of non-random species loss on ecosystems, we studied additive and non-additive effects of litter mixing on decomposition. A full-factorial litterbag experiment was conducted using four deciduous leaf species, from which mass loss and nitrogen content were measured. Data were analysed using a statistical approach that first looks for additive identity effects based on the presence or absence of species and then significant species interactions occurring beyond those. It partitions non-additive effects into those caused by richness and or composition.
Data and code from: Soil decomposer can regulate the legacy effect of photodegradation on forest marcescent litter decomposition, but emerging microplastics disrupt this
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Data from: Faster than expected: Release of nitrogen and phosphorus from decomposing woody litter
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Mass, C, N, and lignin from litter decomposed across a shrub gradient and with snow manipulations near Toolik Field Station between 2003 and 2009.
In arctic tundra near Toolik Lake, Alaska, we incubated a common substrate in a snow addition experiment to test whether snow accumulation around arctic deciduous shrubs altered the environment enough to increase litter decomposition rates. We compared the influence of litter quality on the rate of litter and N loss by decomposing litter from four different plant functional types in a common site. We used aboveground net primary production values and estimated k values from our decomposition experiments to calculate community-weighted mass loss for each site.
Phospholipid fatty acids (PFLA) on decomposed litter: An evolutionary perspective on functional diversity in co-occuring willow(salix) species
Thirteen willow (Salix) species occur in southeastern Minnesota and often co-occur within the same wetlands. This high local diversity is challenging to explain since closely related species are often functionally similar and density-dependent interactions such as competition and susceptibility to pests and pathogens should limit their co-occurrence. However, if willow species are partitioning resources, or if they are phylogenetically structured so that closely related species rarely co-occur, then the impact of these density-dependent processes could be reduced. In this study, I examined the role of niche partitioning in maintaining local willow diversity by comparing species physiology in a greenhouse.
Data for Liana litter decomposes faster than tree litter in a multispecies and multisite experiment
<p><span>1.</span><span> Lianas account for a small fraction of forest biomass, but their contribution to leaf or litter biomass and thus to food webs can be substantial. Globally liana exhibit fast life history traits. Thus liana litter may decompose faster than tree litter, and could enhance decomposition of tree litter (complementarity effect). The differences in decomposition may also vary with mesofauna access or across forest communities. The contribution of these factors to nutrient biogeochemical cycling is poorly understood. </span></p> <p><span>2.</span><span> We examined the decomposition of litter of 20 liana and 20 tree species of three different tropical forest communities in southern China, over one year. (i) We incubated the litter in bags with coarse and fine mesh to distinguish mesofaunal and microfaunal effects. (ii) We used single-species litter bags to compare decomposition rates of lianas and trees, to test which functional traits best explained decomposition, and whether those traits differed between lianas and trees, and among forest types. (iv) We used mixed-species litter bags to test whether liana litter enhances decomposition in litter mixtures. (v) We evaluated how leaf litter nutrients decayed in relation to litter mass.</span></p> <p><span>3.</span><span> Litter decayed faster in coarse mesh than fine mesh bags, but there was no interaction effect with forest type or growth form. Liana litter decayed faster than tree litter in single species bags with mesofauna access and in mixed bags (liana-only mix, tree-only mix) without mesofauna. Lianas had higher nitrogen content and specific leaf area and lower leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and toughness than trees. Decomposition rate was significantly negatively related to LDMC. Litter of evergreen broadleaved (EBL) forest decomposed slower than that of other forest types. Liana litter did not enhance the decomposition of tree litter in mixtures. Liana litter released calcium slightly faster than trees.</span></p> <p><span>Synthesis</span><span>: Leaf litter decomposes faster for lianas than trees, despite high variability of traits and decomposition rates within each growth form and overlap between growth forms, and we found no evidence for the complementarity hypothesis. Our study sheds light on the potential role of lianas within brown food webs and their importance on terrestrial biogeochemistry. </span></p>
Online Resources Chapter 3 - Decomposition of standing litter biomass in newly constructed wetlands associated with direct effects of sediment and water characteristics and the composition and activity of the decomposer community using Phragmites australis as a single standard substrate
<p>Online Resources to Chapter 3 "Decomposition of standing litter biomass in newly constructed wetlands associated with direct effects of sediment and water characteristics and the composition and activity of the decomposer community using Phragmites australis as a single standard substrate" of PhD thesis from Ciska Overbeek, "Peat formation on a former landfill - Production and decomposition of aquatic pioneer vegetation". </p> <p>Published by Overbeek et al in 2019 in Wetlands 39(1): 113-125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-018-1081-y. </p>
Data from: Soil fauna trophic multifunctionality mediates the release of elements from decomposing typhoon generated leaf litter
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Data for Liana litter decomposes faster than tree litter in a multispecies and multisite experiment
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Leaf biomechanical traits predict litter decomposability
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Variability in terrestrial litter decomposition can be explained by nutrient allocation strategies among soil decomposer communities
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Phospholipid fatty acids (PFLA) on decomposed litter: Nitrogen limitation in decomposition
Modern agriculture and fossil fuel combustion contribute to the transfer of N from largely inert pools (atmospheric N2, fossil fuel reserves) to biologically reactive forms that can be transported downwind from agricultural or industrial areas to ecosystems that historically may have experienced low levels of N inputs. Understanding how increased N inputs alter the cycling of another biologically important element, C, has been impeded by uncertainties about N effects on the process of decomposition. To date, ecologists remain unable to predict when, where, and in what forms N addition stimulates rates of decomposition. For example, recent work showed that in eight low-N sites in Central Minnesota, litter N was positively correlated with decomposition, suggesting N limitation of decomposition, yet addition of inorganic N fertilizer increased decomposition in only two of eight sites. These paradoxical results call into question the assumption that the often-observed correlation between substrate N concentration and decomposition arises because N limits decomposition. Research is addressing three interrelated questions:* (1) Why do litter N and externally supplied N have contrasting effects on decomposition in low-N ecosystems? (2) Do different forms of N (organic vs. inorganic; substrate vs. externally supplied) affect the activity, function and composition of the decomposer community differently, and, if so, what are the consequences for decomposition? (3) What are temporal dynamics of the activity, function, and composition of the decomposer community and do these dynamics depend upon the amount and forms of N supplied to the decomposer community?* These questions will be addressed using a 4-y decomposition experiment manipulating the quantity and form of N available to decomposers via use of substrates ranging in N concentrations and of inorganic (ammonium nitrate) and organic (amino acids) N fertilizers. The response of microbial biomass, stoichiometry, efficiency
Data from: Functional diversity of decomposers modulates litter decomposition affected by plant invasion along a climate gradient
<p>1. Litter decomposition is fundamental to carbon (C) and nutrient cycling in ecosystems, which could be altered by plant invasion. The impacts of plant invasion on litter decomposition are generally predicted by traits difference between leaf litters of invasive and non-invasive species. However, plant invasion not only changes litter composition, but might also increase the activity or change the functional diversity of decomposers to alter litter decomposition, which is barely studied, and the effect could be different under varied climate conditions.</p> <p>2. We studied decomposition of litters from non-invasive and invasive native plants, as affected by litter treatments (in a mixture or alone) and decomposer organisms of different functional groups (by controlling the mesh size of litterbags), in sites with or without an invasive woody grass, Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), at seven locations across a climate gradient.</p> <p>3. We show that greater decomposer functional diversity, particularly the presence of macrofauna, accelerated the cycling of litter C and nitrogen (N), increased the climatic sensitivities of decomposition rates, but decreased the N use efficiency of decomposers (represented by litter C to N loss ratio). Litter decomposed in mixtures decomposed faster (by 9.5%) and had more N loss (by 28.9%) than that of in monoculture, regardless of the functional diversity of decomposers. In contrast, the invasion of Moso bamboo slowed decomposition and decreased N use efficiency; this negative effect could be reversed when macrofauna was excluded from the decomposition process, which challenges the nutrient facilitation hypothesis. Bamboo invasion depressed the climatic sensitivity of decomposer functional groups when macrofauna was present but not when macrofauna was excluded.</p> <p>4. Synthesis. We found that the functional diversity of decomposer organisms modulates and largely determines litter decomposition affected by a woody grass invasion along a climate gradient. These results suggest that, under current and future climate, including the changes in decomposer functional groups, particularly macrofauna, and their interaction with litter traits, would provide a mechanistic and more reliable prediction on ecosystem functions altered by invaders than a functional trait-based framework.</p>
Data from: Tropical shift in decomposers' relative contribution to leaf litter breakdown in two Guinean streams
The hypothesis that leaf litter breakdown in Guinean streams is governed by microorganisms was confirmed, supporting the reported latitudinal shift in decomposers' contribution to this process. The large body size of dominant macroinvertebrate decomposers (shrimps) only partially compensated for their very low densities. In contrast with other tropical regions mostly dominated by insect larvae, the functional consequences of global warming on these stream ecosystems may be less severe due to the lower sensitivity of crustaceans to temperature increase.
Data from: Leaf litter diversity and structure of microbial decomposer communities modulate litter decomposition in aquatic systems
1. Leaf litter decomposition is a major ecosystem process that can link aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems by flows of nutrients. Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning research hypothesizes that the global loss of species leads to impaired decomposition rates and thus to slower recycling of nutrients. Especially in aquatic systems an understanding of diversity effects on litter decomposition is still incomplete. 2. Here we conducted an experiment to test two main factors associated with global species loss that might influence leaf litter decomposition. Firstly, we tested whether mixing different leaf species alters litter decomposition rates compared to decomposition of these species in monoculture. Secondly, we tested the effect of the size structure of a lotic decomposer community on decomposition rates. 3. Overall, leaf litter identity strongly affected decomposition rates, and the observed decomposition rates matched measures of metabolic activity and microbial abundances. While we found some evidence of a positive leaf litter diversity effect on decomposition, this effect was not coherent across all litter combinations and the effect was generally additive and not synergistic. 4. Microbial communities, with a reduced functional and trophic complexity, showed a small but significant overall reduction in decomposition rates compared to communities with the naturally complete functional and trophic complexity, highlighting the importance of a complete microbial community on ecosystem functioning. 5. Our results suggest that top-down diversity effects of the decomposer community on litter decomposition in aquatic systems are of comparable importance as bottom-up diversity effects of primary producers.
Data from: Plant interactions as biotic drivers of plasticity in leaf litter traits and decomposability of Quercus petraea
The importance of plant litter traits and decomposability for nutrient cycling processes and plant community dynamics through plant-litter-soil feedbacks has been largely emphasized. However, the role of biotic interactions as drivers of intraspecific variability in litter traits remains surprisingly little studied. In this study, we used a large-scale, multi-site network of long-term tree removal experiments manipulating the abundance of a foundation tree species, i.e. Quercus petraea, to assess how plant interactions control intraspecific variation in oak leaf litter traits and decomposability. We studied 19 plots across eight experimental sites covering a large gradient of oak abundance, stand age and local abiotic context. Oak leaf litter quality strongly declined with tree removal in early forest successional stage. Litter became poorer in nutrients such as N and Mg and richer in secondary metabolites such as lignin and condensed tannins. This in turn slowed its decomposition. Importantly, litter N loss switched from N release to N immobilization. Variance partitioning indicated that oak abundance explained as much variation in oak leaf litter traits as oak age and twice as much as soil inherent fertility. Confirmatory path analysis revealed that the decline of oak leaf litter quality induced by tree removal was most likely driven by a shift in understory plant species composition. Plasticity of oak leaf litter traits to the shortage of nutrient supply related to the development of understory plants competitors with higher nutrient capture and retention ability could potentially explain this response pattern. Our data also give consistent but weaker support that the decline of oak leaf litter quality could be driven by alleviated competition for light among canopy trees and subsequent enhanced crown exposure to light. Overall, our study provides evidence that biotic factors such as plant interactions are major drivers of plasticity in leaf litter traits and decomposability. This finding contributes to the emerging view that phenotypic plasticity is fundamentally related to biotic interactions for sessile organisms, especially for long-lived and large plant species such as trees. Taking this source of functional diversity into account could help us to better understand plant community dynamics and ecological processes in terrestrial ecosystems.
Decreased ultraviolet radiation and decomposer biodiversity inhibit litter decomposition under continuous nitrogen inputs
<p>Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has altered biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functioning. As a key process involved in carbon and nutrient cycles in terrestrial ecosystems, litter decomposition is sensitive to external N inputs. However, it remains unclear how the interactions of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, soil biodiversity (bacteria, fungi and invertebrates) and conventional drivers (e.g., litter chemistry and microbial activities) regulate the responses of litter decomposition to continuous N inputs.</p> <p>Based on an N-addition experimental platform, we conducted a two-year litter decomposition experiment to examine the relative importance of N-induced changes in biotic and abiotic factors in mediating changes in the decomposition rates of four litter types (three representative species and their mixture) along an experimental N gradient in a Tibetan alpine steppe.</p> <p>Our results showed that litter decomposition rates exhibited a consistent decrease in response to N enrichment among all species and their mixture. The slowed decomposition rates with increasing N addition were associated with N-induced reductions in UV radiation and soil bacterial diversity. An additional UV radiation manipulative experiment further confirmed that photodegradation had strong effects on plant litter decomposition at our study site.</p> <p>These results demonstrated that N-induced declines in UV radiation and soil bacterial diversity inhibited litter decomposition, challenging the traditional view that changes in litter chemistry and microbial activities determine the responses of litter decomposition to external N inputs.</p>
Experimental evidence that leaf litter decomposability and flammability are decoupled across gymnosperm species
<p><span>1. Biological decomposition and wildfire are two predominant and alternative processes that can mineralize organic C in forest litter. Currently, the relationships between decomposition and fire are still poorly understood.</span></p> <p><span>2. We provide an empirical test of the hypothesized decoupling of surface litter bed decomposability and flammability, and the underlying traits and trait spectra.</span></p> <p><span>3. We employed a 41-species set of gymnosperms of very broad evolutionary and geographic spread, because of the wide range of (absent to frequent) fire regimes they are associated with.</span></p> <p><span>4. We found that the interspecific pattern of mass loss proportions in a "common garden" decomposition experiment was not correlated with any of the flammability parameters and an RDA analysis also showed that the decomposability and flammability of leaf litter were decoupled across species. This decoupling originates from the former depending mostly on SSS traits and the latter on PES traits and those trait spectra being virtually uncorrelated.</span></p> <p><span>5. Synthesis. Our results show that, indeed, leaf litter decomposability and flammability parameters are decoupled across species, and this decoupling can be explained by their different drivers in terms of trait spectra: chemical traits for decomposability and size-shape traits for flammability.</span></p>
Data from: Warming-induced functional shifts in the decomposer community interact with plant community compositional shifts to impact litter decomposition
<ol> <li>Climate warming is altering plant and soil microbial communities, with important implications for ecosystem processes like litter decomposition. As warming alters plant community composition, quality of litter will change. Further, shifts in microbial community activity and/or composition will alter microbial function. However, it is not yet completely understood how these shifts will interact to drive decomposition.</li> <li>We explored how changes in plant and microbial communities interact to influence litter decomposition using a 15-year-old grassland warming experiment. Previous studies within this system have shown that warming shifted the microbial community in ways that accelerate litter decomposition while simultaneously shifting the plant community in ways that may slow decomposition. Specifically, warming increased abundance of <em>Sorghastrum</em> <em>nutans</em>, while decreasing abundance of the previously dominant <em>Schizachyrium</em> <em>scoparium</em>. Using a series of lab-based microcosm experiments, we examined the rate at which eight common grasses and, separately, varying abundances of <em>S. nutans </em>and<em> S. scoparium </em>decomposed. Using litter and soil from the warming experiment, we then incubated soils from warmed or control plots with different abundances of <em>S. nutans </em>and<em> S. scoparium</em> in a reciprocal design.</li> <li>We found <em>S. nutans</em> to be the slowest-decomposing grass in our system. Further, decomposition slowed as <em>S. nutans</em> increased and <em>S. scoparium</em> decreased. When examining the interaction of plant and microbial communities, decomposition was generally greater early in our experiment as the relative abundance of <em>S. scoparium </em>increased. However, soil microbial community origin and litter composition interacted significantly. Specifically, decomposition increased with greater relative abundance of <em>S. scoparium</em> on soils derived from control plots, while litter composition did not shape rates of decomposition on soils from warmed plots. The influence of litter species on decomposition waned in the later stages of the experiment when decomposition was driven by microbial community origin.</li> <li>These results suggest that warming-induced changes in microbial community function may interact with changes in plant litter composition to mitigate the impacts of warming on rates of decomposition. This emphasizes the importance of considering concurrent warming-induced changes in both plant and microbial communities on ecosystem processes like decomposition.</li> </ol>
Data for: Decomposability of leaf and wood litter are not correlated across species: Effects of litter traits on decomposition in field and laboratory conditions
<ol> <li>Changes in tree species composition have important effects on the overall rate of litter decomposition at a community level because litter decomposability varies among species and between leaf and wood litter. To understand how changes in tree species composition affect litter dynamics and carbon sequestration at the ecosystem level, it is important to clarify interspecific variations in leaf and wood litter decomposability and the traits driving the variation.</li> <li>Using field data, field experiments, and laboratory experiments, we explored rates of leaf and wood litter decomposition and their relationships to traits of ten deciduous hardwood species in a temperate forest in Japan. Rates of leaf and wood litter decomposition at the community level were also estimated by considering species-specific litter inputs and decomposition rates.</li> <li>Rates of leaf and wood litter decomposition were not correlated under either field or controlled laboratory conditions. This is probably because the traits that affect decomposition rate differ between leaf and wood litter. Interspecific variation in litter decomposability of leaves and wood was generally consistent between field conditions and laboratory experiments using a single fungus, suggesting that the decomposing fungi set the species-specific decomposition rates. Moreover, the leaf and wood traits that affected decomposition by their specific fungi were different. The aboveground input of wood litter was less than half that of leaf litter, but its half-life was >3 times longer, suggesting that wood and leaves make similar contributions to litter accumulation.</li> <li>Focusing on either leaf or wood litter alone may produce misleading estimates of how species composition changes affect litter dynamics at the community level. Our results provide insight into predicting the response of carbon dynamics to future climate change.</li> </ol>
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