Effect of invasive Hovenia dulcis on microbial decomposition and diversity of hyphomycetes in Atlantic forest streams

Biasi, Cristiane; Fontana, Lucas Eugenio; Restello, Rozane Maria; Hepp, Luiz Ubiratan

doi:10.1016/j.funeco.2019.100890

Cited by 21 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…The extrapolation of this rationale to stream ecosystems is supported by Garcı ´a-Palacios et al ( 2016) who found strong relationships between litter characteristics (i.e., elemental composition and ratios) and litter decomposition of local species across biomes for both terrestrial and stream ecosystems, and Yue et al (2018) who found the same species ranking in litter decomposition in streams and terrestrial ecosystems. Also, most aquatic hyphomycete species are cosmopolitan (Duarte et al 2016), and many species commonly found in temperate regions (and in the study stream) are also found in Brazilian streams (Gomes et al 2016;Biasi et al 2020). Thus, the lower microbial colonization of leaf litter from tropical and subtropical ecoregions is not probably a result from local aquatic hyphomycete species rejecting non-local litter.…”

Section: Leaf Litter Characteristics Differed Among Ecoregionsmentioning

confidence: 76%

A comparison of decomposition rates and biological colonization of leaf litter from tropical and temperate origins

2021

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Litter decomposition is an ecosystem process that allows energy and nutrients transfer from dead plant matter into detrital food webs. Several studies revealed that leaf litter decomposition rates differ across biomes, but the reasons for these differences are not yet clear. Here, we test the role of several leaf litter physical and chemical characteristics as predictors of decomposition rates and whether life forms (evergreen vs. deciduous) differ in decomposition rates. Leaves from dominant riparian trees were collected in four ecoregions (temperate deciduous forest, subtropical seasonal semideciduous forest, tropical Cerrado and subtropical dense ombrophylous forest) and their physical and chemical characteristics were measured. We then determined leaf litter decomposition, colonization by aquatic hyphomycetes and macroinvertebrates in a same stream (i.e., under the same environmental conditions), and consumption rates by shredders under laboratory conditions. Deciduous and evergreen tree species did not differ in the measured litter characteristics, but deciduous leaves decompose faster than evergreens. Leaf litter from tree species from the four ecoregions differed in their physical and chemical characteristics. Litter from temperate deciduous species decomposed faster than litter from the other three ecoregions, generally supported higher aquatic hyphomycete species richness and sporulation rates and higher consumption rates by shredders. There were significant negative correlations between litter decomposition and associated biotic variables and litter initial lignin concentration and lignin:N ratio. We conclude that lignin concentration and lignin:N ratio are important predictors of litter decomposition, although other unmeasured parameters such as micronutrients may also play important roles in this key ecosystem process.

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Section: Leaf Litter Characteristics Differed Among Ecoregionsmentioning

confidence: 76%

A comparison of decomposition rates and biological colonization of leaf litter from tropical and temperate origins

2021

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“…Advancing our understanding on these responses is important, because of the ongoing anthropogenic pressures on the biosphere; for instance, habitat simplification and degradation 20 . If vegetation is altered and plant species diversity is simplified, as is often the case in the conversion to monocultures, decomposer communities living in them and surrounding environments such as streams can also be simplified due to substrate and habitat simplification 21 , 22 ; such biotic homogenization could have substantial consequences on ecosystem processes 23 , including decomposition 24 , 25 . Another threat is climate change.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A meta-analysis on decomposition quantifies afterlife effects of plant diversity as a global change driver

et al. 2020

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Biodiversity loss can alter ecosystem functioning; however, it remains unclear how it alters decomposition—a critical component of biogeochemical cycles in the biosphere. Here, we provide a global-scale meta-analysis to quantify how changes in the diversity of organic matter derived from plants (i.e. litter) affect rates of decomposition. We find that the after-life effects of diversity were significant, and of substantial magnitude, in forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Changes in plant diversity could alter decomposition rates by as much as climate change is projected to alter them. Specifically, diversifying plant litter from mono- to mixed-species increases decomposition rate by 34.7% in forests worldwide, which is comparable in magnitude to the 13.6–26.4% increase in decomposition rates that is projected to occur over the next 50 years in response to climate warming. Thus, biodiversity changes cannot be solely viewed as a response to human influence, such as climate change, but could also be a non-negligible driver of future changes in biogeochemical cycles and climate feedbacks on Earth.

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“…This result indicates an accelerated decomposition rate of senescent leaves of H . dulcis in comparison with the leaf‐litter produced by native plants, which can be explained by a high specific leaf area, low leaf toughness, and low C:N ratio (Biasi et al, 2020; König et al, 2014). Thus, H .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ants benefit from the Japanese raisin tree invasion and favor its invasiveness in the subtropical Atlantic Rainforest

et al. 2022

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Biological invasions are among the main drivers of biodiversity losses, which can be caused by alterations in habitat structure. Animal–plant mutualistic interactions created in recipient communities may enhance alien species invasiveness. In this study, we investigate the relationships between the Japanese raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis) and ground‐foraging ant communities in the Atlantic Rainforest. Seven paired sites (n = 14) of invaded and uninvaded forests (control) were chosen. We sampled ant communities with pitfall traps in those sites during 2018 wintertime, before (June) and after H. dulcis infructescences fall on the forest floor (July). In June, leaf‐litter mass of invaded sites was higher, but ant diversity and composition were not affected. In July, leaf‐litter mass reduced, and infructescence offer triggered a higher ant diversity and distinct ant species composition in invaded sites. We additionally performed an experiment to understand the potential use of H. dulcis diaspores by ant species. We recorded 19 species exploiting H. dulcis diaspores, of which 18 consumed the fleshy peduncle in situ, and two removed diaspores for distances >1 cm. Our study indicates the invasion did not negatively affect ant communities by altering the leaf‐litter layer. On the contrary, ant communities benefited from the high‐resource availability during exposure to cold stress. Ant–H. dulcis diaspore interactions could further contribute to seed germination and propagule establishment, potentially enhancing H. dulcis invasiveness. Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.

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Effect of invasive Hovenia dulcis on microbial decomposition and diversity of hyphomycetes in Atlantic forest streams

Cited by 21 publications

References 75 publications

A comparison of decomposition rates and biological colonization of leaf litter from tropical and temperate origins

A comparison of decomposition rates and biological colonization of leaf litter from tropical and temperate origins

A meta-analysis on decomposition quantifies afterlife effects of plant diversity as a global change driver

Ants benefit from the Japanese raisin tree invasion and favor its invasiveness in the subtropical Atlantic Rainforest

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