Plant herbivory responses through changes in leaf quality have no effect on subsequent leaf‐litter decomposition in a neotropical rain forest tree community

Genetic variation within a dominant riparian forest tree affects susceptibility to a leaf-galling aphid (Pemphigus betae), which induces phytochemical and structural changes in leaf tissue. Research Highlights: We show here that these changes to tree leaf tissue alter adjacent in-stream leaf litter decomposition rates and the aquatic macroinvertebrate community associated with litter in the stream for some Populus genotypes. Background and Objectives: Naturally occurring hybrid cottonwoods (Populus fremontii × Populus angustifolia) are differentially susceptible to aphid attack and vary in induced phytochemistry following attack. When leaves are galled by aphids, foliar tissue is altered structurally (through the formation of pea-sized gall structures) and phytochemically (through an increase in foliar condensed tannin concentrations). Materials and Methods: To examine the effect of aphid-galled leaves on forest stream processes, we collected both galled and un-galled leaves from five clones of three hybrid cottonwood genotypes in an experimental forest. We measured in-stream litter decomposition rates, aquatic fungal biomass and aquatic macroinvertebrate community composition. Results: Decomposition rates differed among genotypes and the galled litter treatments, with a 27% acceleration of decomposition rate for the galled litter of one genotype compared to its own un-galled litter and no differences between galled and un-galled litters for the other two genotypes. Genotype by foliar gall status interactions also occurred for measures of phytochemistry, indicating a prevalence of complex interactions. Similarly, we found variable responses in the macroinvertebrate community, where one genotype demonstrated community differences between galled and un-galled litter. Conclusions: These data suggest that plant genetics and terrestrial forest herbivory may be important in linking aquatic and terrestrial forest processes and suggest that examination of decomposition at finer scales (e.g., within species, hybrids and individuals) reveals important ecosystem patterns.

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What drives leaf litter decomposition and the decomposer community in subtropical forests – the richness of the above-ground tree community or that of the leaf litter?

Soil Biology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/j.soilbio.2021.108314 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 108314

Author(s):

Hong Lin ◽

Yinong Li ◽

Helge Bruelheide ◽

Sirong Zhang ◽

Haibao Ren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Litter Decomposition ◽

Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽

Subtropical Forests ◽

Community Or ◽

Tree Community ◽

Decomposer Community

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Vegetation Type and Soil Moisture Drive Variations in Leaf Litter Decomposition Following Secondary Forest Succession

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12091195 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 1195

Author(s):

Yulin Liu ◽

Zhouping Shangguan ◽

Lei Deng

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Leaf Litter ◽

Litter Decomposition ◽

Forest Succession ◽

Secondary Forest ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽

Farmland Abandonment ◽

Leaf Quality ◽

Secondary Forest Succession

Soil moisture was an important factor affecting litter decomposition. However, less attention has been given to the complete succession ecosystem after farmland abandonment. To better understand the effect of moisture on leaf litter decomposition after farmland abandonment, in this study, we used three water gradients (10%, 25% and 50%) of field moisture capacity for succession vegetation. Furthermore, we used the typical species leaf litter decomposition of four succession stages—grassland (GL), shrubland (SL), pioneer forest (PF), and climax forest (CF) from the Loess Plateau of China. The results showed that leaves decomposition rate exhibited an increasing pattern with increasing moisture contents. The decomposition trend was shown as GL > SL > PF > CF. During the decomposition process, the leaf carbon concentration (LC) and leaf nitrogen concentration (LN) changed, but non-significantly. The effects of LC, LN, and LC: LN on leaf decomposition varied with vegetation type. Soil properties such as NH4+, NO3−, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), and leaf quality parameters such as leaf cellulose, lignin, lignin: LN, and lignin: LC played an important role in driving leaf litter decomposition. Overall, the results provide evidence that litter decomposition in secondary forest succession system was linked to leaf and soil nutrient dynamics, and was limited by soil moisture.

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