Litterfall and Element Return in an Abies faxoniana Forest in Tibet—A Five-Year Study

Forest litter is the main contributor to soil fertility and the main carrier of circulating material and energy in forest ecosystems. Abies faxoniana (Minjiang fir) is one of the dominant species in alpine forest ecosystems. Its litter input plays important roles in soil organic matter formation and biogeochemical cycles in these ecosystems, but the annual litterfall pattern and its components remain largely unknown. To determine the litter input and nutrient return of A. faxoniana, we measured the litterfall and element (carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), aluminium (Al), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn)) contents of different litter components (branches, leaves and epiphytes) from 2016 to 2020. The results showed that the annual litterfall in the A. faxoniana forest ranged from 2055.96 to 5384.15 kg·ha−1·a−1, and the average mass proportions of branches, leaves and epiphytes were 30.12%, 62.18% and 7.7%, respectively. The litterfall yield varied significantly with time and component; not only was the yield of litter in the nongrowing season higher than that in the growing season, but it also exhibited dramatic interannual variations. We also found that time had significant effects on the contents of all elements except for Ca in the litter. The return and input amounts of each element followed the same dynamics, which closely resembled a bimodal pattern. Moreover, there was significant interannual variability in the returned amounts of each element. The ranges of annual returns of C, N and P were 744.80~2275.12, 19.80~59.00 and 1.03~2.81 kg·ha−1·a−1, respectively. The ranges of annual returns of K, Ca, Na, Mg, Al, Fe and Mn were 0.91~2.00, 7.04~18.88, 0.13~0.58, 0.33~1.20, 0.55~2.29, 0.41~1.37 and 0.16~0.48 kg·ha−1·a−1, respectively, reflecting a seasonal double-peak pattern. These results have important implications for understanding the biogeochemical cycles and material migration processes in alpine forest ecosystems.

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FOREST LITTER CONSTRAINTS ON THE PATHWAYS CONTROLLING SOIL ORGANIC MATTER FORMATION

Soil Biology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/j.soilbio.2021.108447 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 108447

Author(s):

Luís F.J. Almeida ◽

Ivan F. Souza ◽

Luís C.C. Hurtarte ◽

Pedro Paulo Teixeira ◽

Thiago M. Inagaki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Forest Litter ◽

Soil Organic Matter Formation

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Geospatial technology perspectives for mining vis-a-vis sustainable forest ecosystems

Present Environment and Sustainable Development ◽

10.1515/pesd-2017-0020 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 219-238 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Laxmi Goparaju ◽

P. Rama Chandra Prasad ◽

Firoz Ahmad

Keyword(s):

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Biogeochemical Cycles ◽

Mining Activities ◽

Forest Environment ◽

Mining Operations ◽

Geospatial Technology ◽

The Status ◽

The Impact

Abstract Forests, the backbone of biogeochemical cycles and life supporting systems, are under severe pressure due to varied anthropogenic activities. Mining activities are one among the major reasons for forest destruction questioning the survivability and sustainability of flora and fauna existing in that area. Thus, monitoring and managing the impact of mining activities on natural resources at regular intervals is necessary to check the status of their depleted conditions, and to take up restoration and conservative measurements. Geospatial technology provides means to identify the impact of different mining operations on forest ecosystems and helps in proposing initiatives for safeguarding the forest environment. In this context, the present study highlights the problems related to mining in forest ecosystems and elucidates how geospatial technology can be employed at various stages of mining activities to achieve a sustainable forest ecosystem. The study collates information from various sources and highlights the role of geospatial technology in mining industries and reclamation process.

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Variations of belowground C and N cycling between arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal forests across China

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr19377 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 58 (5) ◽

pp. 441 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jiwei Li ◽

Zhouping Shangguan ◽

Lei Deng

Keyword(s):

Soil Respiration ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

N Cycling ◽

Microbial Biomass C ◽

N Cycle ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Litter Input ◽

C And N ◽

C And N Cycling

Forests associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi may have distinct belowground carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycle processes. However, there are little available data providing evidence for the effects of trees associating with mycorrhizal type on belowground C and N cycling in forest ecosystems in China. Here, we collected a database of 26 variables related to belowground C and N cycling from 207 studies covering 209 sampling sites in China, to better understand the variations in belowground C and N cycling between the two mycorrhizal types in forest ecosystems along a climatic gradient. The AM forests had significantly lower soil total C and N contents, and soil microbial biomass C and N, than ECM forests, probably due to differences in litter quality (N and C/N) between AM and ECM forest types. In contrast, AM forests had significantly higher litter input, litter decomposition and soil respiration than ECM forests. Temperature and precipitation had significant positive effects on litter input and decomposition, soil total C and N contents, and soil respiration in AM and ECM forests. Overall, our results indicated that mycorrhizal type strongly affected belowground C and N cycle processes in forest ecosystems. Moreover, AM forests are likely more sensitive and ECM forests have a greater ability to adapt to global climate change.

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Forest Gap Size Alters the Functional Diversity of Soil Nematode Communities in Alpine Forest Ecosystems

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10090806 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 806

Author(s):

Shen ◽

Yang ◽

Zhang ◽

Xu ◽

Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Nematode Community ◽

Soil Nematode ◽

Gap Size ◽

Forest Gap ◽

Forest Gaps ◽

Alpine Forest ◽

Soil Nematode Community ◽

Closed Canopy

Changes in the microenvironment driven by forest gaps have profound effects on soil nutrient cycling and litter decomposition processes in alpine forest ecosystems. However, it is unclear whether a similar forest gap effect occurs in the soil decomposer community. A field experiment was conducted in an alpine forest to investigate the composition and structure of the soil nematode community among four treatments, including under a closed canopy and in small (<10 m in diameter), medium (10‒15 m in diameter), and large (15‒20 m in diameter) gaps. A total of 92,787 individuals and 27 species (genera level) of soil nematode were extracted by elutriation and sugar centrifugation, respectively. Filenchus was the most abundant dominant taxa and represented 24.27%‒37.51% of the soil nematodes in the four treatments. Compared to the closed canopy, the forest gaps did not affect the composition, abundance, or species diversity of the soil nematode community but significantly affected the functional diversity of the soil nematode community. The maturity indices (MI, ∑MI, and MI2‒5) of the soil nematode community in the closed canopy were significantly lower than those in the forest gaps. Moreover, the proportion of plant parasitic index and maturity index (PPI/MI) values of the closed canopy and small gaps were significantly higher than those of the medium and large gaps. Our results suggest that the forest gap size substantially alters the functional diversity of soil nematodes in the debris food web, and changes in soil nematode community structure due to gap formation may have profound effects on soil biogeochemical processes in alpine forests.

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Comparative study on litter production and nutrient return to soil in Tarai and Hill Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.) forests of eastern Nepal

Banko Janakari ◽

10.3126/banko.v28i1.21450 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 11-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

K. P. Bhattarai ◽

T. N. Mandal

Keyword(s):

Comparative Study ◽

Tree Species ◽

Winter Season ◽

Forest Litter ◽

Tropical Region ◽

Litter Production ◽

Species Variation ◽

Litter Fall ◽

Nutrient Return ◽

Sal Forest

Litter production and nutrient return to soil through litter fall is important pathway for the regulation of nutrient cycling and primary production of the forest. Litter fall dynamics is generally influenced by phenology of tree species, seasons and altitude of the forest stand. As most of the information on litter production are from temperate and dry tropical region. A comparative study on litter production and nutrient return were conducted in Terai Sal forest (TSF) and Hill Sal forest (HSF) located in moist tropical region of eastern Nepal. Litter samples were collected from the litter traps (1m × 1m size) placed randomly in the forest. Collection was done at two months interval for one year. Annual litterfall in TSF (8.82 Mg ha-1y-1) was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than in HSF (7.18 Mg ha-1y-1).There was distinct seasonality in litter production. In TSF and HSF, litterfall was maximum in the summer (6.57 Mg ha-1 and 5.05 Mg ha-1, respectively) and minimum in winter season (0.86 Mg ha-1 and 0.72 Mg ha-1, respectively). Amount of nutrient return to forest soil through litter fall (kg ha-1 y-1) was higher in TSF (72.44 N, 6.80 P and 33.23 K) than HSF (54.31 N, 4.84 P and 22.23 K). The difference in litter production between these two forests was influenced by the phenology of dominant tree species, variation in altitude and seasons. Nutrient return through litter fall is a great input of nutrients in soil which is required for production process. Thus, litter constitutes a significant role in forest management.Banko JanakariA Journal of Forestry Information for NepalVol. 28, No. 1, 2018, page: 11-19

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Environmental population and forest stress: A multidisciplinary approach study on alpine forest ecosystems

Chemosphere ◽

10.1016/s0045-6535(97)10170-9 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 36 (4-5) ◽

pp. 1049-1054 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

A. Ballarin-Denti ◽

S.M. Cocucci ◽

F. Di Girolamo

Keyword(s):

Multidisciplinary Approach ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Alpine Forest

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УГРУПОВАННЯ ПІДСТИЛКОВИХ НЕМАТОД ЛІСІВ МЕЗИНСЬКОГО НАЦІОНАЛЬНОГО ПРИРОДНОГО ПАРКУ

Scientific Issue Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University. Series: Biology ◽

10.25128/2078-2357.19.3.2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 77 (3) ◽

pp. 13-17

Author(s):

T. M. Zhylina ◽

V. L. Shevchenko

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Nematode Species ◽

Forest Litter ◽

Taxonomic Structure ◽

Formaldehyde Solution ◽

Nematode Communities ◽

Nature Park ◽

June July ◽

Exposition Time

The taxonomic structure of the nematodes and the thickness in the forest litter of the Mezin National Nature Park were studied. Samples were collected during 2008-2010 and 2014 (June – July) in 21 forest ecosystems. Nematodes were extracted by a modified Baermann's method from the sample of 5 g. The exposition time was 48 h. Extracted nematodes were fixed in the triethanolamine–formalin (TAF, 2 % triethanolamine, 7 % formaldehyde solution, 91 % water), and mounted on the temporary hydroglyceric slides. To describe the taxonomic structure of nematode communities we calculated the proportion of each order (family) in the community as the ratio (in %) of the individuals of each order (family) to the total number of nematodes. 46 nematode species belonging to 36 genera, 21 families and 10 orders were identified. The average number of nematodes was 4256 per 100 g of substrate. The number of nematodes varied from 220 to 11920 specimens per 100 g in separate samples. Most of the identified species (78.26 %) belong to the four orders: Tylenchida (10 species), Plectida (9 species), Rhabditida (9 species), Dorylaimida (8 species) or 21.74 %, 19.57 %, 19.57 % and 17.39 % of the species composition, respectively. The orders of Enoplida, Triplonchida, Araeolaimida, Mononchida, Monhysterida and Teratocephalida are represented by 1 to 2 species (4.35 – 2.17 % of the total number of identified species). In terms of quantitative representation, species of Plectida are dominant (proportion in the community 43.15 %). This proportion was 2.5 times higher than the number of representatives of Tylenchida (17.07 %), Dorylaimida (17.01 %) and Rhabditida (16.44 %). Comparatively, the largest number of species found belong to the families Plectidae (9 species), Cephalobidae (6 species), and Tylenchidae (5 species). Only six nematode families were represented in the forest litter samples, namely: Plectidae (with proportion in the community 43.15 %), Dorylaimidae (with proportion in the community 13.74 %), Aphelenchoididae (with 8.99 %), Panagrolaimidae (with 8.17 %), Tylenchidae (with 5.90 %), Mesorhabditidae (with 5.48 %).

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