scholarly journals Urbanisation differently affects decomposition rates of recalcitrant woody material and labile leaf litter

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Kotze ◽  
H Setälä
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Urban Habitat ◽  
Urban Habitats ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Spruce Forests ◽  
The City

AbstractLitter decomposition is a fundamental ecosystem process and service that supplies nutrients to the soil. Although decomposition rate is influenced by litter quality, climatic conditions, the decomposer community and vegetation type in non-urban ecosystems, little is known about the degradation of different organic matter types in urban settings. We investigated the decomposition rates of recalcitrant (wood sticks for 4 years) and labile litter (green tea leaves in pyramid-shaped teabags for 3 years) in urban habitats that differed in level of management and disturbance. We found that recalcitrant woody material decomposed slower in urban habitat types (ca. 60–75% mass loss after 4 years in remnant spruce forests, park lawns, ruderal habitats) than in natural to semi-natural spruce forest soils (84% mass loss) outside the city. Labile tea litter, however, decomposed faster in typical open urban habitats (70% mass loss after 3 years in park lawns, ruderal habitats) than in forested habitats (60% mass loss in semi-natural and remnant spruce forests), with a remarkable dichotomy in decomposition rate between open and forested habitats. We suggest that the slower rate of wood decomposition in the city relates to its depauperate saprotrophic fungal community. The faster rate of labile litter decomposition in open habitats is difficult to explain, but is potentially a consequence of environmental factors that support the activity of bacteria over fungi in open habitats. We propose that the reintroduction of decaying woody material into the urban greenspace milieu could increase biodiversity and also improve the ability of urban soils to decompose an array of organic material entering the system. This reintroduction of decaying woody material could either occur by leaving cut logs – due to management – in urban remnant forests, which has been shown to be accepted as natural features by residents in Fennoscandian cities, and by placing logs in urban parks in ways that communicate their intentional use as part of urban landscape design and management.

Effects of N Deposition Induced by Environmental Pollution on Litter Decomposition Rate of Cortex phellodendri chinensis in Shenyang City

2012 ◽  
Vol 518-523 ◽  
pp. 1913-1917
Author(s):  
Fang Qin Guo ◽  
Wei Chen
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Mass Loss ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Litter Quality ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Shenyang City ◽  
Litter Decomposition Rate ◽  
Cortex Phellodendri

The effects of N deposition induced by environmental pollution on litter decomposition rate in Shenyang city are analyzed by the reciprocal transplant experiment. By contrasting environments and intraspecific variations in Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis leaf litter quality on mass loss rates to investigate the effects of N deposition on mass loss rates in urban and suburb. The results showed that N deposition in urban significantly affected litter decomposition rate by affecting litter quality and environmental conditions. There was a faster decomposition rate when the environmental conditions or litter quality was affected by N deposition.

Litter dynamics in two Sierran mixed conifer forests. I. Litterfall and decomposition rates

1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 1127-1135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Stohlgren
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
White Fir ◽  
Mixed Conifer Forests ◽  
Sugar Pine ◽  
Giant Sequoia

Litterfall was measured for 4 years and leaf litter decomposition rates were studied for 3.6 years in two mixed conifer forests (giant sequoia–fir and fir–pine) in the southern Sierra Nevada of California. The giant sequoia–fir forest (GS site) was dominated by giant sequoia (Sequoiadendrongiganteum (Lindl.) Buchh.), white fir (Abiesconcolor Lindl. & Gord.), and sugar pine (Pinuslambertiana Dougl.). The fir–pine forest (FP site) was dominated by white fir, sugar pine, and incense cedar (Calocedrusdecurrens (Torr.) Florin). Litterfall, including large woody debris <15.2 cm in diameter, at the GS site averaged 6364 kg•ha−1•year−1 compared with 4355 kg•ha−1•year−1 at the FP site. Compared with other temperate coniferous forests, annual variability in litterfall (as computed by the ratio of the annual maximum/minimum litterfall) was extremely high for the GS site (5.8:1) and moderately high for the FP site (3.4:1). In the GS site, leaf litter decomposition after 3.6 years was slowest for giant sequoia (28.2% mass loss), followed by sugar pine (34.3%) and white fir (45.1%). In the FP site, mass loss was slowest for sugar pine (40.0%), followed by white fir (45.1%), while incense cedar showed the greatest mass loss (56.9%) after 3.6 years. High litterfall rates of large woody debris (i.e., 2.5–15.2 cm diameter) and slow rates of leaf litter decomposition in the giant sequoia–fir forest type may result in higher litter accumulation rates than in the fir–pine type. Leaf litter times to 95% decay for the GS and FP sites were 30 and 27 years, respectively, if the initial 0.7-year period (a short period of rapid mass decay) was ignored in the calculation. A mass balance approach for total litterfall (<15.2 cm diameter) decomposition yielded lower decay constants than did the litterbag study and therefore longer times to 95% decay (57 years for the GS site and 62 years for the FP site).

Interaction of Douglas-fir with red alder and salal foliage litter during decomposition

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 358-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.W. Fyles ◽  
I.H. Fyles
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Red Alder ◽  
Ericaceous Shrub

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) foliage litter was incubated in the laboratory in 100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, and 0/100% mixtures with foliage litters from red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.), a nitrogen-fixing tree species, and salal (Gaultheriashallon Pursh) an ericaceous shrub. Mass loss and mineral nitrogen content were measured at eight dates during the 32-week incubation. The occurrence of interaction between litters, observed as deviation from a linear trend across mixtures at each date, was determined by polynomial contrasts. Douglas-fir–red alder mixtures decomposed faster than predicted by mass loss from pure litters throughout the study, apparently because of nitrogen mineralized by the red alder component. Douglas-fir–salal mixtures decomposed more slowly than predicted between 7 and 25 weeks. The study demonstrates the potential for litters to interact with positive or negative effects on decomposition rates and emphasizes the need to examine such interactions if litter decomposition in the field is to be understood.

scholarly journals TeaTime4Schools: Using Data Mining Techniques to Model Litter Decomposition in Austrian Urban School Soils

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taru Sandén ◽  
Anna Wawra ◽  
Helene Berthold ◽  
Julia Miloczki ◽  
Agnes Schweinzer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Mining ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Classification Trees ◽  
Urban School ◽  
Attribute Selection ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Soil Attributes ◽  
Tea Bag Index ◽  
Stabilization Factor

Litter decomposition plays a pivotal role in the global carbon cycle, but is difficult to measure on a global scale, especially by citizen scientists. Here, citizen scientists, i.e., school students with their teachers, used the globally applied and standardized Tea Bag Index (TBI) method to collect data on litter decomposition in urban areas in Austria. They also sampled soils to investigate the linkages between litter decomposition and soil attributes. For this study, 54 sites were selected from the school experiments and assembled into a TBI dataset comprising litter decomposition rates (k), stabilization factors (S), as well as soil and environmental attributes. An extensive pre-processing procedure was applied to the dataset, including attribute selection and discretization of the decomposition rates and stabilization factors into three categories each. Data mining analyses of the TBI data helped reveal trends in litter decomposition. We generated predictive models (classification trees) that identified the soil attributes governing litter decomposition. Classification trees were developed for both of the litter decomposition parameters: decomposition rate (k) and stabilization factor (S). The main governing factor for both decomposition rate (k) and stabilization factor (S) was the sand content of the soils. The data mining models achieved an accuracy of 54.0 and 66.7% for decomposition rates and stabilization factors, respectively. The data mining results enhance our knowledge about the driving forces of litter decomposition in urban soils, which are underrepresented in soil monitoring schemes. The models are very informative for understanding and describing litter decomposition in urban settings in general. This approach may also further encourage participatory researcher-teacher-student interactions and thus help create an enabling environment for cooperation for further citizen science research in urban school settings.

scholarly journals Temperaturna odvisnost razgradnje opada v tleh travnikov v zaraščanju

2018 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 189
Author(s):  
Marjetka SUHADOLC ◽  
Zalika ČREPINŠEK
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Lignin Content ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
Litter Bags ◽  
Plant Litter Decomposition ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
The Difference

The aim of the study was to examine whether the effect of projected temperature rises due to the global climate change could accelerate plant litter decomposition in soils of overgrown grasslands. The experiment was carried out under natural conditions at the locations of Bohinj-Polje and Uskovnica with similar environmental conditions (precipitation, parent material and soil development, plant communities) and the difference in air temperatures. The average difference in monthly air temperatures during our study were higher in Bohinj for 4.4 °C (± 1.5 °C) than in Uskovnica. Nylon mesh bags with mixed plant litter from both locations were placed into the Of horizon of the soil profiles at both locations in autumn 2007. The litter bags were sampled successively at 4 sampling times until May 2009 in 5 replicates. The litter degradation, expressed as mass loss, was throughout our study 57.1 ± 1.2 % (0 - 526 days) in Bohinj, 57.3 ± 2.6 % (0 - 555 days) at Uskovnica. No statistically significant differences in litter decomposition rate and seasonal pattern of mass loss was found between the sites. The dynamics of the total content of cellulose and lignin, Corg and N and their soluble forms (DOC and DON) were similar between the sites as well. The lignin content in the plant material did not statistically significantly change during the experiment. The results of our experiment did not confirm the effect of the difference in average air temperature on decomposition rate decreases. The results did not confirm any effect from the difference in the average monthly air temperature between the sites on the plant litter decomposition in our study.

Effects of fertilization on decomposition rate of Populus tremuloides foliar litter in a boreal forest

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
C E Prescott ◽  
R Kabzems ◽  
L M Zabek
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Mass Loss ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Single Fertilization

Rates of mass loss of foliar litter of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) were measured for 4 years after a single fertilization with N at 200 kg N/ha or a mix of N, P, K. Ca, Mg, S, and B. Foliar litter from fertilized plots had higher N concentrations than litter from control plots; litter from the nutrient-mix plots had higher concentrations of N, P, and Ca. The average rate of mass loss of aspen foliar litter was 60% after 4 years. The higher concentrations of nutrients in litter from fertilized plots did not affect the rate of decomposition. There was some difference in rates of decomposition of litter incubated in plots of the three treatments. Mass loss was significantly slower in the nutrient-mix plots after 12 and 18 months compared with control plots. This experiment provided no evidence that fertilization of boreal aspen forests will increase rates of litter decomposition.

scholarly journals Termite Control of Leaf Litter Decomposition of Eight Selected Plant Species of Sudano-guinea Savannahs of Ngaoundere, Cameroon

2020 ◽  
pp. 13-26
Author(s):  
A. Ibrahima ◽  
S. Kalba Sirzoune ◽  
P. Badakoa ◽  
A. A. Mang A. Menick ◽  
P. Souhore
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Mass Loss ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Resource Quality ◽  
Maytenus Senegalensis

Few studies on effects of termites on litter decomposition have been done in African savannahs, particularly in the Adamawa savannahs of Cameroon. In the framework of management of resource quality to restore or improve soil fertility of farming systems of Sudano-guinea savannahs of Ngaoundere, Cameroon, study on termites’ control of leaf litter decomposition of eight plant species was conducted on the field. The selected plant species are Bixa orellana, Erythrina sigmoïdea, Ficus polita, Maytenus senegalensis, Mucuna stans, Piliostigma thonningii, Vitex madiensis and Vitellaria paradoxa. Leaf litter samples were incubated in situ using litterbags of 2 mm mesh during 24 weeks in two plots out of canopy, corresponding to two treatments, with and without termites. Experimental design was split-plot with three replications. Collected data was carried out on litter dry mass remaining (LMR). Results showed total mass loss at the end of incubation time (24 weeks) and decomposition rate constants (k) differed significantly among plant species for the two treatments. The values ranged respectively from 23.05% and 0.012 week-1 in V. madiensis to 61.93% of initial dry mass and 0.046 week-1 in P. thonningii for treatment without termites and from 43.88% and 0.022 week-1 in B. orellana to 91.51% and 0.095 week-1 in P. thonningii for treatment with termites. These macro organisms fasted litter decomposition in all plant species, with intensity variation according to species. Litter mass loss and decomposition rate constant (k) correlated with litter thickness, density, area and specific area mass, and these relationships were influenced by the presence of termites. Globally litter decomposition was influenced by termite activities and resource quality. These results contributed to understand litter decomposition process in the sudano-guinea savannahs of Ngaoundere in order improve soil fertility, nutrient cycling and some plant species domestication.

scholarly journals Combined effects of water temperature, grazing snails and terrestrial herbivores on leaf decomposition in urban streams

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongyong Xiang ◽  
Yixin Zhang ◽  
David Atkinson ◽  
Raju Sekar
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Water Temperature ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Litter Quality ◽  
Urban Streams ◽  
Combined Effects ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Terrestrial Insects

The decomposition of organic matter in freshwaters, such as leaf litter, can affect global nutrient (e.g., carbon) cycling. This process can be influenced by fast urbanization through increased water temperature, reduced aquatic diversity and changed leaf litter quality traits. In this study, we performed a mesocosm experiment to explore the individual and combined effects of warming (8°C higher and ambient), the presence versus absence of grazing snails (Parafossarulus striatulus), and intraspecific difference of leaf litter quality (intact versus > 40% area of Liriodendron chinense leaves grazed by terrestrial insects) on litter decomposition in urban streams. Litter decomposition rates ranged from 0.019 d−1 to 0.058 d−1 with an average decomposition rate of 0.032 ± 0.002 d−1. All the three factors had significant effects on litter decomposition rate. Warming and the presence of snails accelerated litter decomposition rates by 60% and 35% respectively. Litter decomposition rates of leaves damaged by terrestrial insects were 5% slower than that of intact leaves, because litter quality of terrestrial insect-damaged leaves was lower (i.e., higher specific leaf weight) than intact leaves. For treatments with snails, warming stimulated microbial and snail mediated litter decomposition rates by 35% and 167%, respectively. All combinations of treatments showed additive effects on litter decomposition except for the interaction between warming and snails which showed positive synergistic effects. In addition, neither temperature nor litter quality affected snail growth rate. These results imply that higher water temperature and the presence of abundant snails in urban streams greatly enhanced litter decomposition. Moreover, the effect of pest outbreaks, which resulted in lower litter quality, can cascade to aquatic ecosystems by retarding microbe-mediated litter decomposition. When these factors co-occurred, warming could synergistically interact with snails to speed up the depletion of organic matter, while the effect of leaf quality on litter decomposition may be diminished at high water temperature. These effects could further influence stream food webs and nutrient cycling.

scholarly journals Effects of soil fauna on litter decomposition in Chinese forests: a meta-analysis

PeerJ ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. e12747
Author(s):  
Peng Zan ◽  
Zijun Mao ◽  
Tao Sun
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Temperate Forest ◽  
Litter Quality ◽  
Soil Fauna ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
The Impact

Litter quality and climate have been presumed to be the dominant factors regulating litter decomposition rates on broad spatial scales. However, the role of soil fauna on litter decomposition is poorly understood, despite the fact that it could strongly influence decomposition by fragmentation and subsequent modification of the activities of microorganisms.In this study, we carried out a meta-analysis on the effects of soil fauna on litter decomposition rates in Chinese forests, ranging from boreal to tropical forests, based on data from 20 studies. The effects of climatic factors on decomposition rate were assessed by comparing the contribution of soil fauna to litter decomposition from studies carried out at different latitudes.The degree of influence of the soil fauna was in the order tropical (200%) > subtropical (47%) > temperate forest (28%). Comparing the effect size of soil fauna, it was found that when soil fauna was excluded, the decomposition rate, calculated using Olson’s equation, was most affected in tropical forest (−0.77), while the litter decomposition rate both subtropical (−0.36) and temperate forest (−0.19) were also suppressed to varying degrees (P < 0.001). These results highlight that soil fauna could promote litter decomposition to different extents. Using stepwise multiple linear regression, the effect size of the soil fauna was negatively correlated with the cellulose and nitrogen concentrations of the initial litter material. In Chinese forests, litter decomposition rates were reduced, on average, by 65% when soil fauna was excluded. The impact of soil fauna on decomposition was shown to be closely related to climate and litter quality.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document