Enhanced soil nutrient concentrations beneath-canopy of savanna trees infected by mistletoes in a southern African savanna

Muvengwi, Justice; Ndagurwa, Hilton G.T.; Nyenda, Tatenda

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2015.01.017

Cited by 21 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Organic management has been advocated to improve the sustainability of apple production systems (Reganold et al 2001). The results of this research, which are similar to those of previous studies on plant residue nutrient release (Muvengwi et al 2015;Ndagurwa et al 2013), demonstrate that the contents of AN, AP, AK, AFe, AMn, and ACu in the BR treatment increased compared with the CK treatment, in which branches were not returned to the orchard soil. The contents of N, P, and K are essential for C fixation during photosynthesis and the functions of the symplast, which is the interconnected network of live cell contents in the outer wood and inner bark from the root tip to the foliage (Walter et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Apple Branch Decomposition and Nutrient Turnover in the Orchard Soil

Lyu

et al. 2017

BioResources

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Changes in the physical structure and nutrients contents of apple branches were explored after decomposition, and the soil quality of an orchard was evaluated after returning apple branches in situ. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to analyse the structural changes of the experimental material. The results showed that the structure of this material is obviously destroyed in the transverse sections and longitudinal sections. Collapsed cell walls had a negative effect on complete branches, which presented sharp decreases in cellulose contents and the partial removal of lignin and carbohydrate contents by the third year. In a final analysis of the nutrients in the branches, there was an obvious decline in macroelements (e.g., phosphorus and potassium), whereas manganese, which is a limiting factor, increased by 4-fold compared with the control. The results indicated that the addition of mulch from branches can be used to maintain a high soil quality in the third year of decomposition.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Apple Branch Decomposition and Nutrient Turnover in the Orchard Soil

Lyu

et al. 2017

BioResources

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“…These soil spots were especially enriched in K + and PO 4 3− ‐P, reflecting the main elements provided by litter of V. a. austriacum (Table ). This result has been noted in other mistletoe species (March & Watson, ; Ndagurwa et al ., ; Muvengwi et al ., ). However, soil N content was lower than expected, a result also reported for mistletoes of the African savanna (Ndagurwa et al ., ; Muvengwi et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…This result has been noted in other mistletoe species (March & Watson, ; Ndagurwa et al ., ; Muvengwi et al ., ). However, soil N content was lower than expected, a result also reported for mistletoes of the African savanna (Ndagurwa et al ., ; Muvengwi et al ., ). This could be attributable to a greater mineralization and nitrification of the organic N, which could be stimulated by the lower C : N relationship of the mistletoe or by changes in the abiotic environment produced in the tree canopy as a consequence of parasitism (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…As a result of this variety and bounty of interactions, mistletoes can, both directly and indirectly, modulate soil organic matter and nutrient inputs underneath the canopy of parasitized hosts. Direct effects can be highly noticeable, as mistletoes often contribute large amounts of biomass to the forest floor – including leaves, fruits, and flowers (March & Watson, ), which are rich in nutrients and have a high decomposition rate, enhancing soil nutrient cycling (March & Watson, ; Ndagurwa et al ., ,b; Muvengwi et al ., ). Indirect effects of mistletoe through its parasitic and mutualistic interactions may be equally remarkable, but, although sometimes mentioned, these relationships still remain unexplored.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal dynamic of parasite‐mediated linkages between the forest canopy and soil processes and the microbial community

et al. 2016

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Summary Parasitic plants are important drivers of community and ecosystem properties. In this study, we identify different mechanisms by which mistletoe (Viscum album subsp. austriacum) can affect soil chemical and biological properties at different temporal stages of parasitism. We quantified the effect of parasitism on host growth and the number of frugivorous mutualists visiting the host canopy. Then we collected, identified, and weighed the organic matter input underneath tree canopies and analyzed its nutrient content. Simultaneously, we analyzed soil samples under tree canopies and examined the chemical properties, microbial abundance, and functional evenness of heterotrophic microbial communities. Mistletoe increased the amount, quality, and diversity of organic matter input beneath the host canopy, directly through its nutrient‐rich litter and indirectly through a reduction in host litterfall and an increase in bird‐derived debris. All these effects gave rise to enriched hotspots able to support larger and more functionally even soil microbial communities beneath parasitized hosts, the effects of which were accentuated after host death. We conclude that mistletoe, together with the biotic interactions it mediates, plays a key role in intensifying soil resource availability, regulating the functional evenness, abundance, and spatial distribution of soil microbial communities.

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“…Using litterbags containing litter of one of three mistletoe species and their Acacia host, mistletoe litter was found to have a characteristically lower lignin concentration and lower lignin : N ratio, resulting in faster decomposition rates (a mean decay constant of 0.79 yr −1 compared with 0.63 yr −1 for Acacia litter; Ndagurwa et al ., ). Rather than this just relating to Acacia hosts, parallel research on four other tree species (infected by five mistletoe species) yielded consistent findings (Ndagurwa et al ., ), mistletoe infection leading to elevations in soil nutrient concentrations ranging from 2.25× for N, 2.28× for P and 3.78× for magnesium (Mg) up to 8.55× for Ca and 39× for K (Muvengwi et al ., ). The final element of this work evaluated the effect of these altered nutrient inputs on litter‐dwelling arthropods (Ndagurwa et al ., ).…”

Section: Case Study 2 – Semi‐arid Tropical Savannahmentioning

confidence: 97%

Fleshing out facilitation – reframing interaction networks beyond top‐down versus bottom‐up

Watson

2016

New Phytologist

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Summary Rather than direct plant–plant interactions, research on the community‐scale influence of mistletoes reveals hitherto unappreciated roles of animals in mediating facilitation. Lacking roots and reliant upon animal vectors, mistletoes represent model systems with which to understand mechanisms underlying interaction networks. In addition to direct effects on nutrient dynamics via enriched litter‐fall, mistletoes are visited by pollinators, seed dispersers and natural enemies, complementing increased heterogeneity in nutrient returns reallocated from infected hosts with increased external inputs. These amplified bottom‐up effects are coupled with top‐down influences of insectivores attracted to infected hosts and stands by increased availability of favoured prey. Simultaneously influencing nutrient dynamics and plant–plant interactions from below and above, visiting animals help explain variation in the context dependence of facilitation.

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Enhanced soil nutrient concentrations beneath-canopy of savanna trees infected by mistletoes in a southern African savanna

Cited by 21 publications

References 20 publications

Apple Branch Decomposition and Nutrient Turnover in the Orchard Soil

Apple Branch Decomposition and Nutrient Turnover in the Orchard Soil

Temporal dynamic of parasite‐mediated linkages between the forest canopy and soil processes and the microbial community

Fleshing out facilitation – reframing interaction networks beyond top‐down versus bottom‐up

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