Plant community composition as a driver of decomposition dynamics in riparian wetlands

Britson, Aliana; Wardrop, Denice H.; Drohan, Patrick J.

doi:10.1007/s11273-015-9459-6

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Our findings of the tea and litter incubations imply that when flooding regimes change, decomposition will be directly affected by the new flooding conditions at a local scale (Wagner et al 2015). However, on larger spatio-temporal scales, the few examples using a chronosequence approach suggest that indirect effects via changes in species composition and biomass production may play an important additional role for litter accumulation in temperate zones (Britson et al 2016;Langhans et al 2008;Moore et al 2007;Vendrami et al 2012;Wardle et al 2004;Whittinghill et al 2014). Such vegetation change may drive changes in litter quality, which is known as key a driver of litter decomposition rates (Britson et al 2016;Cleveland et al 2014;Cornwell et al 2008;Makkonen et al 2012;Trofymow et al 2002).…”

Section: Implications For Upscalingmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…However, on larger spatio-temporal scales, the few examples using a chronosequence approach suggest that indirect effects via changes in species composition and biomass production may play an important additional role for litter accumulation in temperate zones (Britson et al 2016;Langhans et al 2008;Moore et al 2007;Vendrami et al 2012;Wardle et al 2004;Whittinghill et al 2014). Such vegetation change may drive changes in litter quality, which is known as key a driver of litter decomposition rates (Britson et al 2016;Cleveland et al 2014;Cornwell et al 2008;Makkonen et al 2012;Trofymow et al 2002). Since species composition only changes gradually (Ström et al 2011;Wright et al 2017) while the decomposition rates react directly to the new conditions, there may be a transitional unbalance between litter production and decomposition, temporally resulting in litter accumulation or a reduction of the litter layer.…”

Section: Implications For Upscalingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This has profound direct and indirect impacts on ecosystem processes and species composition instream, as well as in the bordering riparian ecosystems through changes in water availability, pH, sedimentation, dispersal, species re-assembly and shifts in trophic interaction (Keddy 2000;Nilsson et al 1997;Ström et al 2011). However, we have little understanding of long-term legacy effects of altered flooding regimes on riparian ecosystem functioning in the field, because long-term field experiments where ecosystem processes, like decomposition, are studied are scarce (Britson et al 2016). Yet, decomposition is a fundamental factor for riparian and instream ecosystem functioning as it drives nutrient availability and cycling (Moore 1990;Moore et al 2007;Swift et al 1979;Webster and Benfield 1986).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This will affect the functional capacity of these communities to degrade organic compounds. Third, changes in flooding regime may induce gradual changes in plant community composition and import and export of drift-line debris, thereby changing the quantity and quality of the litter that enters the soil food web and hence the rate of litter breakdown (Britson et al 2016;Ström et al 2011;Nilsson 1997, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Short-and long-term legacy effects of changes in the flooding regime on decomposition of plant litter in the field can be determined with space-for-time or beforeafter impact designs (Britson et al 2016;Hasselquist et al 2015;Whittinghill et al 2014). However, such comparisons are often confounded with changes in other environmental conditions, such as climate or soil type.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Legacy effects of altered flooding regimes on decomposition in a boreal floodplain

Sarneel

Veen

2017

Plant Soil

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Background and aims Since long-term experiments are scarce, we have poor understanding of how changed flooding regimes affect processes such as litter decomposition. Methods We simulated short-and long-term changed flooding regimes by transplanting turfs between low (frequently flooded) and high (in-frequently flooded) elevations on the river bank in 2000 (old turfs) and 2014 (young turfs). We tested how incubation elevation, turf origin and turf age affected decomposition of standard litter (tea) and four types of local litter. Results For tea, we found that the initial decomposition rate (k) and stabilization (S) of labile material during the second decomposition phase were highest at high incubation elevation. We found intermediate values for k and S in young transplanted turfs, but turf origin was not important in old turfs. Local litter mass loss was generally highest at high incubation elevations, and effects of turf origin and turf age were litter-specific. Conclusion We conclude that incubation elevation, i.e., the current flooding regime, was the most important factor driving decomposition. Soil origin (flooding history) affected decomposition of tea only in young turfs. Therefore, we expect that changes in flooding regimes predominantly affect decomposition directly, while indirect legacy effects are weaker and litter-or site-specific.

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Section: Implications For Upscalingmentioning

confidence: 74%

Section: Implications For Upscalingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Legacy effects of altered flooding regimes on decomposition in a boreal floodplain

Sarneel

Veen

2017

Plant Soil

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Ecological effects of mosquito control with Bti: evidence for shifts in the trophic structure of soil- and ground-based food webs

et al. 2023

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The microbial control agent Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) has been successfully used worldwide to reduce abundances of biting Nematocera (Diptera), often with little direct impact on non-target organisms observed. However, the potential for additional indirect effects on other ecosystem properties, including on trophic linkages within food webs, is poorly known. We investigated the effects of multiple-year mosquito control treatments using the Bti product VectoBac®-G on the stable isotope composition of epigeal and soil-based consumers inhabiting replicate floodplains along the River Dalälven, Sweden. We observed significant changes in the isotopic composition of detritivores feeding at the base of floodplain food webs. Enchytraeid worms were characterised by 3.5% higher δ13C values in treated floodplains, suggesting increased consumption of δ13C-enriched food. The overall range of community-wide δ15N values was 56% greater in the treated floodplains, whilst δ15N values of oribatid mites were elevated by 97%. These results suggest extra fractionation in the transfer of nitrogen through floodplain food chains. We conjecture that the ecological mechanisms driving these food web shifts are (1) the mass mortality of high δ13C A. sticticus larvae, which leaves high concentrations of dead mosquito biomass deposited on soils at local scales, after the floodwaters have receded and (2) incorporation of the very high δ13C-enriched corn particles comprising the bulk of the VectoBac®-G product into floodplain food webs. Our results suggest that repeated applications of Bti might have wider, still largely unknown implications for nutrient and energy cycles within floodplain ecosystems.

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Willow-shrub encroachment affects physicochemical properties differently in two subtropical freshwater marshes

Chambers

2020

Wetlands Ecol Manage

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Plant community composition as a driver of decomposition dynamics in riparian wetlands

Cited by 8 publications

References 32 publications

Legacy effects of altered flooding regimes on decomposition in a boreal floodplain

Legacy effects of altered flooding regimes on decomposition in a boreal floodplain

Ecological effects of mosquito control with Bti: evidence for shifts in the trophic structure of soil- and ground-based food webs

Willow-shrub encroachment affects physicochemical properties differently in two subtropical freshwater marshes

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