Trends in leaf traits, litter dynamics and associated nutrient cycling along a secondary successional chronosequence of semi-evergreen tropical forest in South-Eastern Mexico

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 364-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarai Sánchez-Silva ◽  
Bernardus H.J. De Jong ◽  
Deb R. Aryal ◽  
Esperanza Huerta-Lwanga ◽  
Jorge Mendoza-Vega
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Litter Production ◽  
Secondary Forests ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Mature Forest ◽  
N Concentration

Abstract:Trends in structural and chemical leaf traits along a chronosequence of semi-evergreen tropical forest and their correlation with litter production and decomposition and associated carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) fluxes were assessed. Leaves of 15 dominant species in each plot were collected to measure leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA), C and N concentration and C:N ratio. Litterfall was measured and litter decomposition experiments were set up in 16 experimental plots in a chronosequence of secondary and mature forest. All five leaf traits combined discriminated the secondary forests from mature forest. SLA, N and C:N were significantly correlated to litter decomposition rates. Litter decomposition was significantly slower in mature forest compared with secondary forests. The N concentration of litter was lowest during the dry season, when litterfall was highest. N concentration in fresh leaves was higher than in litter, indicating that N is re-absorbed before leaf abscission. Leaf dynamics and associated nutrient cycling differ significantly between secondary forests and mature forest. Ecosystem-level leaf structural and chemical traits are good predictors of the stage of the forest and explain well the differences in decomposition rates between secondary and primary forests.

scholarly journals Implementation of Silvopastoral Systems under Nutrient Cycling in Secondary Vegetation in the Amazon

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 124
Author(s):  
Perlon Maia dos Santos ◽  
Antonio Clementino dos Santos ◽  
Durval Nolasco das Neves Neto ◽  
Wallace Henrique de Oliveira ◽  
Luciano Fernandes Sousa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Integrated Systems ◽  
Native Forest ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Secondary Forests ◽  
Silvopastoral Systems ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Thinning Intensity

Silvopastoral systems can be implemented in idle secondary forests; however, they may affect nutrient cycling in these ecosystems. This farming practice using babassu palms (Attalea speciosa Mart.) and Mombasa grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) has been little studied, and the nutrient cycling occurred during this practice is yet unknown. The goal of this paper was to detect the leaf litter accumulation, decomposition, and nutrient release occurring in silvopastoral systems in a babassu secondary forest, and compared the results with those of a native forest and of a pasture grown under full sunlight. The data relating to deposition, chemical composition, decomposition, and macronutrient release of leaf litter and pasture litter were evaluated by multivariate analyses. The results showed that forest thinning reduced leaf litter deposition and overall nutrient cycling but had no effect on decomposition rates. Conversely, the presence of grass in the understory promoted increased overall nutrient cycling rates. The cycling in integrated systems occurs more similar to that of forests than that of monocultures. The greater the thinning intensity the more similar the cycling will be relative to that occurring in pastures and in monocultures. The nutrients Ca, Mg, and N were the most affected by thinning. Moreover, the presence of grass in integrated systems provided an increased N and Mg cycling, whereas the thinning reduced Ca cycling. K showed the highest release and return ratio to the soil. Lastly, leaf litter from pasture areas showed higher contents of nutrients, decomposition rates, as well as an enhanced nutrient cycling capacity.

scholarly journals Litter inputs and phosphatase activity affect the temporal variability of organic phosphorus in a tropical forest soil in the Central Amazon

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karst J. Schaap ◽  
Lucia Fuchslueger ◽  
Marcel R. Hoosbeek ◽  
Florian Hofhansl ◽  
Nathielly Pires Martins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Litter Production ◽  
P Availability ◽  
Organic P ◽  
Phosphorus Cycle ◽  
P Fractions ◽  
Soil P

Abstract Purpose The tropical phosphorus cycle and its relation to soil phosphorus (P) availability are a major uncertainty in projections of forest productivity. In highly weathered soils with low P concentrations, plant and microbial communities depend on abiotic and biotic processes to acquire P. We explored the seasonality and relative importance of drivers controlling the fluctuation of common P pools via processes such as litter production and decomposition, and soil phosphatase activity. Methods We analyzed intra-annual variation of tropical soil phosphorus pools using a modified Hedley sequential fractionation scheme. In addition, we measured litterfall, the mobilization of P from litter and soil extracellular phosphatase enzyme activity and tested their relation to fluctuations in P- fractions. Results Our results showed clear patterns of seasonal variability of soil P fractions during the year. We found that modeled P released during litter decomposition was positively related to change in organic P fractions, while net change in organic P fractions was negatively related to phosphatase activities in the top 5 cm. Conclusion We conclude that input of P by litter decomposition and potential soil extracellular phosphatase activity are the two main factors related to seasonal soil P fluctuations, and therefore the P economy in P impoverished soils. Organic soil P followed a clear seasonal pattern, indicating tight cycling of the nutrient, while reinforcing the importance of studying soil P as an integrated dynamic system in a tropical forest context.

scholarly journals Litter inputs and phosphatase activity control the temporal variability of organic phosphorus in a tropical forest soil in the Central Amazon

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karst J. Schaap ◽  
Lucia Fuchslueger ◽  
Marcel R. Hoosbeek ◽  
Florian Hofhansl ◽  
Nathielly Pires Martins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Litter Production ◽  
P Availability ◽  
Organic P ◽  
Phosphorus Cycle ◽  
P Fractions ◽  
Soil P

Abstract Purpose. The tropical phosphorus-cycle and its impacts on phosphorus (P) availability are a major uncertainty in projections of forest productivity. In highly weathered soils with low P concentrations, plant and microbial communities depend on biological and physical processes to acquire P. We explored the seasonality and relative importance of drivers controlling the fluctuation of common P pools via processes such as litter production and decomposition, and soil phosphatase activity. Methods. We analyzed variation of standard tropical soil phosphorus pools over one year. In addition, we measured litterfall, its decomposition rates and soil extracellular phosphatase enzyme activity and tested their relation to the fluctuations in P-fractions. Results. Our results show clear patterns of seasonal variability of soil P fractions during the year. We found that modeled P released during litter decomposition is positively related to change in organic P fractions, while net change in organic P fractions was negatively related to phosphatase activities in the top 5 cm. Conclusion. We conclude that input of organic P forms by litter decomposition and organically produced phosphatases are the two main factors controlling seasonal soil P fluctuation, and therefore the P economy in P impoverished soils. Organic soil P follows a clear seasonal pattern, indicating tight cycling of the nutrient, while reinforcing the importance of studying soil P as an integrated dynamic system in a tropical forest context.

scholarly journals A plant economics spectrum of litter decomposition among coexisting fern species in a sub-tropical forest

2019 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-155
Author(s):  
Dunmei Lin ◽  
Shufang Yang ◽  
Pengpeng Dou ◽  
Hongjuan Wang ◽  
Fang Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Fine Roots ◽  
Plant Functional Traits ◽  
Resource Acquisition ◽  
Seed Plants ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Fern Species

Abstract Background and Aims The plant economics spectrum theory provides a useful framework to examine plant strategies by integrating the co-ordination of plant functional traits along a resource acquisition–conservation trade-off axis. Empirical evidence for this theory has been widely observed for seed plants (Spermatophyta). However, whether this theory can be applied to ferns (Pteridophyta), a ubiquitous and ancient group of vascular plants, has rarely been evaluated so far. Methods We measured 11 pairs of plant functional traits on leaves and fine roots (diameter <2 mm) on 12 coexisting fern species in a sub-tropical forest. Litterbags of leaves and roots were placed in situ and exposed for 586 d to measure decomposition rates. The variation of traits across species and the co-ordination among traits within and between plant organs were analysed. Finally, the influence of the traits on decomposition rates were explored. Key Results Most leaf and root traits displayed high cross-species variation, and were aligned along a major resource acquisition–conservation trade-off axis. Many fern traits co-varied between leaves and fine roots, suggesting co-ordinated responses between above- and below-ground organs. Decomposition rates of leaves were significantly higher than those of fine roots, but they were significantly and positively correlated. Finally, our results highlight that the decomposition of both leaves and roots was relatively well predicted by the leaf and root economics spectra. Conclusions Our results support the existence of an acquisition–conservation trade-off axis within ferns and indicate that traits have important ‘afterlife’ effects on fern litter decomposition. We conclude that the plant economics spectrum theory that is commonly observed across seed plants can be applied to ferns species, thereby extending the generality of this theory to this ancient plant lineage in our study site. Our study further suggests that the evolutionary and ecological basis for the relationships among key economics traits appears to be similar between ferns and seed plants. Future studies involving larger data sets will be required to confirm these findings across different biomes at larger spatial scales.

Determinants of litter decomposition rates in a tropical forest: functional traits, phylogeny and ecological succession

Oikos ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 126 (8) ◽  
pp. 1101-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Szefer ◽  
Carlos P. Carmona ◽  
Kryštof Chmel ◽  
Marie Konečná ◽  
Martin Libra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Ecological Succession ◽  
Decomposition Rates

scholarly journals Litter Production and Accumulation as an Indicator of Degradation in Caatinga

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
Ane Cristine Fortes da Silva ◽  
César Henrique Alves Borges ◽  
Camila Costa da Nóbrega ◽  
Patrícia Carneiro Souto ◽  
Jacob Silva Souto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Ecosystem Processes ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Litter Production ◽  
Litter Accumulation ◽  
Cycling Process ◽  
Litterfall Production

The ecosystem processes in the caatinga, such as litter dynamic, are threatened and little is known about it in these environments. The litter processes can be used as indicators of degradation or recovery of an ecosystem because these processes react to changes in the ecosystems. The litterfall deposition was collected monthly over 23 months in collectors of 1.0 m2. The litter accumulation on soil was collected monthly over 23 months in frames of 0.25 m2. The coefficient of decomposition (K) was estimated by the relation between annual litter production and litter stock in the soil surface. Annual litterfall production increased with stand age. Total annual litter production in different age stands varies from 1.37 Mg ha-1 in the 15 years to 2.37 Mg ha-1 in the 50 years stand. K and renewal times were also significantly different among the sites. K was higher in 50 years, followed by 30 years and 15 years. There were a higher litter production and accumulation in the older stands. The older stands presented faster litter decomposition and renew, which evidences a better utilization of litter in the nutrient cycling process and the incorporation of organic matter into the soil. These results show that litter processes are effective indicators of the stage of degradation in a caatinga ecosystem.

scholarly journals Litter Decomposition Rates of Biocrust-Forming Lichens Are Similar to Those of Vascular Plants and Are Affected by Warming

Ecosystems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Berdugo ◽  
Dinorah O. Mendoza-Aguilar ◽  
Ana Rey ◽  
Victoria Ochoa ◽  
Beatriz Gozalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Decomposition Rates
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