Leaf litter decomposition rates: influence of successional age, topography and microenvironment on six dominant tree species in a tropical dry forest

Morffi-Mestre, Hernán; Ángeles‐Pérez, Gregorio; Powers, Jennifer S.; Andrade, José Luís; Feldman, Richard E.; May‐Pat, Filogonio; Chi-May, Francisco; Dupuy, Juan Manuel

doi:10.3389/ffgc.2023.1082233

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 76 publications

(102 reference statements)

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“…Forest succession is likely to influence fine root decomposition, which is an important process for nutrient intake and C exchange in terrestrial ecosystems (Fu et al, 2021). Lower L contents and nutrient concentrations in early forest successional phases leads to increased decomposition rates (Morffi-Mestre et al, 2023). Slower decomposition rates are caused by changes in the fine root characteristics of old forests.…”

Section: Fine Rootsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine root decomposition in forest ecosystems: an ecological perspective

Saha,

Huang,

Khoso

et al. 2023

Front. Plant Sci.

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Fine root decomposition is a physio-biochemical activity that is critical to the global carbon cycle (C) in forest ecosystems. It is crucial to investigate the mechanisms and factors that control fine root decomposition in forest ecosystems to understand their system-level carbon balance. This process can be influenced by several abiotic (e.g., mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, site elevation, stand age, salinity, soil pH) and biotic (e.g., microorganism, substrate quality) variables. Comparing decomposition rates within sites reveals positive impacts of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and negative effects of lignin concentration. Nevertheless, estimating the actual fine root breakdown is difficult due to inadequate methods, anthropogenic activities, and the impact of climate change. Herein, we propose that how fine root substrate and soil physiochemical characteristics interact with soil microorganisms to influence fine root decomposition. This review summarized the elements that influence this process, as well as the research methods used to investigate it. There is also need to study the influence of annual and seasonal changes affecting fine root decomposition. This cumulative evidence will provide information on temporal and spatial dynamics of forest ecosystems, and will determine how logging and reforestation affect fine root decomposition.

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Section: Fine Rootsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine root decomposition in forest ecosystems: an ecological perspective

Saha,

Huang,

Khoso

et al. 2023

Front. Plant Sci.

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Litter Decomposition in Retreating Coastal Forests

Smith,

Valentine,

Small

et al. 2024

Estuaries and Coasts

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Rising sea levels lead to the migration of salt marshes into coastal forests, thereby shifting both ecosystem composition and function. In this study, we investigate leaf litter decomposition, a critical component of forest carbon cycling, across the marsh-forest boundary with a focus on the potential influence of environmental gradients (i.e., temperature, light, moisture, salinity, and oxygen) on decomposition rates. To examine litter decomposition across these potentially competing co-occurring environmental gradients, we deployed litterbags within distinct forest health communities along the marsh-forest continuum and monitored decomposition rates over 6 months. Our results revealed that while the burial depth of litter enhanced decomposition within any individual forest zone by approximately 60% (decay rate = 0.272 ± 0.029 yr−1 (surface), 0.450 ± 0.039 yr−1 (buried)), we observed limited changes in decomposition rates across the marsh-forest boundary with only slightly enhanced decomposition in mid-forest soils that are being newly impacted by saltwater intrusion and shrub encroachment. The absence of linear changes in decomposition rates indicates non-linear interactions between the observed environmental gradients that maintain a consistent net rate of decomposition across the marsh-forest boundary. However, despite similar decomposition rates across the boundary, the accumulated soil litter layer disappears because leaf litter influx decreases from the absence of mature trees. Our finding that environmental gradients counteract expected decomposition trends could inform carbon-climate model projections and may be indicative of decomposition dynamics present in other transitioning ecosystem boundaries.

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Leaf functional traits of Daphniphyllum macropodum across different altitudes in Mao’er Mountain in Southern China

Chen,

Li,

Jiang

et al. 2024

Front. For. Glob. Change

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Investigating functional traits among mountain species with differing altitude requirements is integral to effective conservation practices. Our study aims to investigate the structural and chemical characteristics of Daphniphyllum macropodum leaves at three altitudes (1100 m, 1300 m, and 1500 m) across southern China to provide insight into changes in leaf functional traits (LFT) as well as plant adaptations in response to changing environmental conditions. Leaf structural characteristics include leaf thickness (LT), leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf tissue density (LD), respectively, while chemical properties include carbon-nitrogen-phosphorus (C:N:P) contents and ratios, such as C/N, C/P, and N/P. Our findings demonstrated the significant effect of altitude on both structural (LT, SLA, LD) and chemical aspects (N, C/N, N/P) of LFT. In particular, leaves at 1100 and 1300 m differed greatly, with 1300 m having lower SLA values than 1100 m. Observable trends included an initial increase followed by a decline as the altitude rose. Notable among them were the LT, LD, N, and N/P values at both locations. Traits at 1300 m were significantly higher than at 1100 m; SLA and C/N values displayed an inverse trend, with their lowest values occurring at 1300 m. Furthermore, this research demonstrated various degrees of variation among LFT, with structural traits exhibiting greater fluctuation than chemical traits. Robust correlations were observed among certain traits, such as LT, LD, and SLA. Furthermore, the interdependency relationships between N and C/N, as well as P and C/P, demonstrated interconnectedness. Redundancy analysis indicated that soil factors, specifically P content, exerted the strongest impact on LFT. At 1100 m, D. macropodum employed acquisition strategies; however, at 1300 m, conservation strategies emerged, showing a shift from acquisition strategies at lower altitudes to conservative strategies at higher ones.

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Leaf litter decomposition rates: influence of successional age, topography and microenvironment on six dominant tree species in a tropical dry forest

Cited by 3 publications

References 76 publications

Fine root decomposition in forest ecosystems: an ecological perspective

Fine root decomposition in forest ecosystems: an ecological perspective

Litter Decomposition in Retreating Coastal Forests

Leaf functional traits of Daphniphyllum macropodum across different altitudes in Mao’er Mountain in Southern China

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