scholarly journals Effects of Simulated Nitrogen Deposition on Leaf-Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Release of A Cold Temperate Coniferous Forest in Jiaozi Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve, Southwest China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
jiyou yuan ◽  
zhiyun Ouyang ◽  
Yirong SU ◽  
Yun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Ammonium Nitrate ◽  
Nitrogen Deposition ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Nutrient Release ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
High Nitrogen ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Nitrogen Treatments ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Purpose Litter decomposition is a key process of nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, an important part of the global carbon budget, and deeply affected by global atmospheric nitrogen deposition. However, the effects of different forms of N addition on litter decomposition and nutrient release are unclear in a cold temperate coniferous forest in a subtropical Chinese plateau. Methods Three N sources (NH4)2SO4, NaNO3, and NH4NO3 were used in the gradient N deposition method. Each N source was divided into four treatments, from low to high, they were CK (control 0 kg N·hm− 2·a− 1), low N (low-N 5 kg N·hm− 2·a− 1), medium n (medium-N 15 kg N·hm− 2·a− 1), high N (high-30 kg N·hm− 2·a− 1), and each treatment repeated three times. Results After two years, the litter decomposition rates of low and medium ammonium nitrate treatments were the fastest as compared to the control, while high and low ammonium nitrate treatments were the slowest. Under the same nitrogen deposition conditions, the litter decomposition rates of low nitrogen treatments were higher than high nitrogen treatments. The order of litter decomposition rates was ammonium nitrate > ammonium sulfate > sodium nitrate. Nitrogen deposition decreased the amount of C in litter leaves but increased N and P levels slightly. Phosphorus changes over time were more complex than C and N over time. Conclusions These results showed that high nitrogen deposition in the future could increase litter decomposition rates and delay the nutrient release, which may be beneficial to improve soil carbon sequestration.

scholarly journals Leaf litter decomposition rates increase with rising mean annual temperature in Hawaiian tropical montane wet forests

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori D Bothwell ◽  
Paul C Selmants ◽  
Christian P Giardina ◽  
Creighton M. Litton
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Net Primary Productivity ◽  
Nutrient Release ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Litter Decay ◽  
Wet Forests

Decomposing litter in forest ecosystems supplies nutrients to plants, carbon to heterotrophic soil microorganisms and is a large source of CO2 to the atmosphere. Despite its essential role in carbon and nutrient cycling, the temperature sensitivity of leaf litter decay in tropical forest ecosystems remains poorly resolved, especially in tropical montane wet forests where the warming trend may be amplified compared to tropical wet forests at lower elevations. We quantified leaf litter decomposition rates along a highly constrained 5.2 °C mean annual temperature (MAT) gradient in tropical montane wet forests on the Island of Hawaii. Dominant vegetation, substrate type and age, soil moisture, and disturbance history are all nearly constant across this gradient, allowing us to isolate the effect of rising MAT on leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release. Leaf litter decomposition rates were a positive linear function of MAT, causing the residence time of leaf litter on the forest floor to decline by ~31 days for each 1 °C increase in MAT. Our estimate of the Q10 temperature coefficient for leaf litter decomposition was 2.17, within the commonly reported range for heterotrophic organic matter decomposition (1.5 – 2.5) across a broad range of ecosystems. The percentage of leaf litter nitrogen (N) remaining after six months declined linearly with increasing MAT from ~ 88% of initial N at the coolest site to ~74% at the warmest site. The lack of net N immobilization during all three litter collection periods at all MAT plots indicates that N was not limiting to leaf litter decomposition, regardless of temperature. These results suggest that leaf litter decay in tropical montane wet forests may be more sensitive to rising MAT than in tropical lowland wet forests, and that increased rates of N release from decomposing litter could delay or prevent progressive N limitation to net primary productivity with climate warming.

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 Long-term litter decomposition controlled by manganese redox cycling

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (38) ◽  
pp. E5253-E5260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Keiluweit ◽  
Peter Nico ◽  
Mark E. Harmon ◽  
Jingdong Mao ◽  
Jennifer Pett-Ridge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Direct Proof ◽  
Redox Cycling ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Soil System

Litter decomposition is a keystone ecosystem process impacting nutrient cycling and productivity, soil properties, and the terrestrial carbon (C) balance, but the factors regulating decomposition rate are still poorly understood. Traditional models assume that the rate is controlled by litter quality, relying on parameters such as lignin content as predictors. However, a strong correlation has been observed between the manganese (Mn) content of litter and decomposition rates across a variety of forest ecosystems. Here, we show that long-term litter decomposition in forest ecosystems is tightly coupled to Mn redox cycling. Over 7 years of litter decomposition, microbial transformation of litter was paralleled by variations in Mn oxidation state and concentration. A detailed chemical imaging analysis of the litter revealed that fungi recruit and redistribute unreactive Mn2+provided by fresh plant litter to produce oxidative Mn3+species at sites of active decay, with Mn eventually accumulating as insoluble Mn3+/4+oxides. Formation of reactive Mn3+species coincided with the generation of aromatic oxidation products, providing direct proof of the previously posited role of Mn3+-based oxidizers in the breakdown of litter. Our results suggest that the litter-decomposing machinery at our coniferous forest site depends on the ability of plants and microbes to supply, accumulate, and regenerate short-lived Mn3+species in the litter layer. This observation indicates that biogeochemical constraints on bioavailability, mobility, and reactivity of Mn in the plant–soil system may have a profound impact on litter decomposition rates.

scholarly journals Bryosphere Loss Impairs Litter Decomposition Consistently Across Moss Species, Litter Types, and Micro-Arthropod Abundance

Ecosystems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Grau-Andrés ◽  
David A. Wardle ◽  
Paul Kardol
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Moss Species ◽  
Key Driver ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Arthropod Abundance

AbstractThe bryosphere (that is, ground mosses and their associated biota) is a key driver of nutrient and carbon dynamics in many terrestrial ecosystems, in part because it regulates litter decomposition. However, we have a poor understanding of how litter decomposition responds to changes in the bryosphere, including changes in bryosphere cover, moss species, and bryosphere-associated biota. Specifically, the contribution of micro-arthropods to litter decomposition in the bryosphere is unclear. Here, we used a 16-month litterbag field experiment in two boreal forests to investigate bryosphere effects on litter decomposition rates among two moss species (Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens), and two litter types (higher-quality Betula pendula litter and lower-quality P. schreberi litter). Additionally, we counted all micro-arthropods in the litterbags and identified them to functional groups. We found that bryosphere removal reduced litter decomposition rates by 28% and micro-arthropod abundance by 29% and led to a colder micro-climate. Litter decomposition rates and micro-arthropod abundance were uncorrelated overall, but were positively correlated in B. pendula litterbags. Bryosphere effects on litter decomposition rates were consistent across moss species, litter types, and micro-arthropod abundances and community compositions. These findings suggest that micro-arthropods play a minor role in litter decomposition in the boreal forest floor, suggesting that other factors (for example, micro-climate, nutrient availability) likely drive the positive effect of the bryosphere on decomposition rates. Our results point to a substantial and consistent impairment of litter decomposition in response to loss of moss cover, which could have important implications for nutrient and carbon cycling in moss-dominated ecosystems.

Toads (Bufo bankorensis) influence litter chemistry but not litter invertebrates and litter decomposition rates in a subtropical forest of Taiwan

2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Yu Huang ◽  
Chiao-Ping Wang ◽  
Ping-Chun Lucy Hou
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Subtropical Forest ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
North East ◽  
Ecological Roles ◽  
Litter Invertebrates ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
And Control ◽  
Predatory Arthropods

Few studies have been conducted to investigate ecological roles of litter amphibians in forest ecosystems. In this study, ten field enclosures (3 m × 2 m × 0.4 m) were used to evaluate effects of the toad Bufo bankorensis on the abundance of litter invertebrates (microbivores, fragmenters and predatory arthropods) and litter decomposition rates in a subtropical forest of southern Taiwan. Litterbags collected from toad and control (toad-excluded) enclosures were analysed for the communities and abundances of litter invertebrates and decay loss during this decomposition study from September to December 2001. The presence of B. bankorensis significantly changed phosphorus concentrations in the litter, but not the densities of litter invertebrates (microbivores, fragmenters and predatory arthropods) or rates of litter decomposition. These results were not consistent with previous studies, which have shown that Plethodon cenereus in a temperate forest of north-east USA and Eleutherodactylus coqui in a tropical rain forest of Puerto Rico significantly changed decomposition rates. We suggest that ecological roles of ground-dwelling amphibians may be species-specific and vary with different terrestrial ecosystems.

scholarly journals Leaf litter decomposition rates increase with rising mean annual temperature in Hawaiian tropical montane wet forests

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori D Bothwell ◽  
Paul C Selmants ◽  
Christian P Giardina ◽  
Creighton M. Litton
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Net Primary Productivity ◽  
Nutrient Release ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Litter Decay ◽  
Wet Forests

Decomposing litter in forest ecosystems supplies nutrients to plants, carbon to heterotrophic soil microorganisms and is a large source of CO2 to the atmosphere. Despite its essential role in carbon and nutrient cycling, the temperature sensitivity of leaf litter decay in tropical forest ecosystems remains poorly resolved, especially in tropical montane wet forests where the warming trend may be amplified compared to tropical wet forests at lower elevations. We quantified leaf litter decomposition rates along a highly constrained 5.2 °C mean annual temperature (MAT) gradient in tropical montane wet forests on the Island of Hawaii. Dominant vegetation, substrate type and age, soil moisture, and disturbance history are all nearly constant across this gradient, allowing us to isolate the effect of rising MAT on leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release. Leaf litter decomposition rates were a positive linear function of MAT, causing the residence time of leaf litter on the forest floor to decline by ~31 days for each 1 °C increase in MAT. Our estimate of the Q10 temperature coefficient for leaf litter decomposition was 2.17, within the commonly reported range for heterotrophic organic matter decomposition (1.5 – 2.5) across a broad range of ecosystems. The percentage of leaf litter nitrogen (N) remaining after six months declined linearly with increasing MAT from ~ 88% of initial N at the coolest site to ~74% at the warmest site. The lack of net N immobilization during all three litter collection periods at all MAT plots indicates that N was not limiting to leaf litter decomposition, regardless of temperature. These results suggest that leaf litter decay in tropical montane wet forests may be more sensitive to rising MAT than in tropical lowland wet forests, and that increased rates of N release from decomposing litter could delay or prevent progressive N limitation to net primary productivity with climate warming.

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