scholarly journals Key plant species and detritivores drive diversity effects on instream leaf litter decomposition more than functional diversity: A microcosm study

2021 ◽  
pp. 149266
Author(s):  
J. Rubio-Ríos ◽  
J. Pérez ◽  
M.J. Salinas ◽  
E. Fenoy ◽  
N. López-Rojo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Microcosm Study ◽  
Diversity Effects

scholarly journals Nutrient Release Dynamics Associated with Native and Invasive Leaf Litter Decomposition: A Mesocosm Experiment

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2350
Author(s):  
Thendo Mutshekwa ◽  
Ross N. Cuthbert ◽  
Ryan J. Wasserman ◽  
Florence M. Murungweni ◽  
Tatenda Dalu
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Nutrient Release ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Nutrient Inputs ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Over Time

Leaf litter contributes to the functioning of aquatic ecosystems through allochthonous inputs of carbon, nitrogen, and other elements. Here, we examine leaf litter nutrient inputs and decomposition associated with four plant species using a mesocosm approach. Native sycamore fig Ficus sycomorus L., and silver cluster–leaf Terminalia sericea Burch. ex DC. decomposition dynamics were compared to invasive tickberry Lantana camara L. and guava Psidium guajava L., whereby phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, silicate, and ammonium releases were quantified over time. Leaf inputs significantly reduced pH, with reductions most marked by invasive L. camara. Conductivity was heightened by all leaf input treatments, except native T. sericea. Leaf inputs significantly affected all nutrient levels monitored in the water over time, except for silicate. In particular, leaf litter from invasive L. camara drove significantly increased nutrient concentrations compared to other native plant species, whilst effects of invasive P. guajava were less statistically clear. The end weights of the leaf litter demonstrated decomposition differences among the species types, following a decreasing order of P. guajava > T. sericea > F. sycomorus > L. camara, further suggesting high organic inputs from invasive L. camara. The study results highlight that differential leaf litter decomposition rates of four plant species can play a significant role in nutrient release, in turn altering aquatic ecosystem productivity. However, these effects likely depend on species-specific differences, rather than between invasive–native species generally. Shifting terrestrial plant communities may alter aquatic community composition, but specific effects are likely associated with leaf traits.

scholarly journals Impact of CeO2nanoparticles on the functions of freshwater ecosystems: a microcosm study

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 830-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agathe Bour ◽  
Florence Mouchet ◽  
Stéphanie Cadarsi ◽  
Jérôme Silvestre ◽  
Eric Chauvet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Microcosm Study

By affecting decomposer organisms, CeO2NPs may affect leaf litter decomposition and impact the functioning of freshwater ecosystems.

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 Leaf litter decomposition in remote oceanic islands: The role of macroinvertebrates vs. microbial decomposition of native vs. exotic plant species

Limnologica ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 80-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Miguel Raposeiro ◽  
Gustavo Meneses Martins ◽  
Isadora Moniz ◽  
Andreia Cunha ◽  
Ana Cristina Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Oceanic Islands ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Exotic Plant ◽  
Exotic Plant Species ◽  
Microbial Decomposition

Effects of insecticide Profenofos and herbicide MCPA on leaf litter decomposition in tropical streams: a microcosm study

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. I. Sumudumali ◽  
J. M. C. K. Jayawardana ◽  
S. K. Gunatilake ◽  
E. P. N. Udayakumara ◽  
S. Malavipathirana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Tropical Streams ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Microcosm Study
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