Slower rates of litter decomposition of dominant epiphytes in the canopy than on the forest floor in a subtropical montane forest, southwest China

Li, Su; Liu, Wenyao; Li, Dawen; Li, Ze-Xi; Song, Liang; Chen, Ke; Fu, Yun

doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2013.12.031

Cited by 21 publications

(29 citation statements)

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“…Several studies support the idea that lichen and mistletoe play an important role as sources of nutrientrich litter input in temperate forests (March and Watson, 2007;Fisher et al, 2013). In addition, many species of Usnea have the capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen making them a functionally important element in boreal and temperate forests and also their litter of disproportional significance (Li et al, 2014). For this reason, and among other ecological functions, these organisms have been described as a keystone resource in many forest ecosystems (Watson, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Canopy communities and their relevance in forests ecosystems are becoming increasingly recognized around the world (March and Watson, 2007;Storaunet et al, 2008;Rawat et al, 2011;Fisher et al, 2013;Soler et al, 2013;Li et al, 2014). During the last decade, forest managers have incorporated new strategies (e.g., variable retention) to preserve the original composition and function of forests as a whole system.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent studies have found that litter input from parasitic plants enhance the ground litter mass and plant productivity of the understorey (March and Watson, 2007;Fisher et al, 2013), while fruticose lichen litter increases nutrient availability, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, in forests soil (Li et al, 2014). There are many gaps in our understanding of the role of arboreal plant communities, particularly in regards to human-induced disturbances such as logging.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mistletoes and epiphytic lichens contribute to litter input in Nothofagus antarctica forests

et al. 2015

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mistletoes and epiphytic lichens contribute to litter input in Nothofagus antarctica forests

et al. 2015

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“…The primary forest in the reserve has a high diversity of epiphytes. The branch and trunk surfaces of trees are occupied by nearly 600 epiphytic species (Li et al, ), including lichens (183), bryophytes (176), ferns (117), and spermatophytes (113) (Li et al, , ; Ma et al, ; Xu & Liu, ). The dominant lichens are Usnea florida , Cetrelia olivetorum , Everniastrum nepalense , Nephromopsis ornata , and N. pallescens .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The branch and trunk surfaces of trees are occupied by nearly 600 epiphytic species (Li et al, 2013), including lichens (183), bryophytes (176), ferns (117), and spermatophytes (113) (Li et al, 2013(Li et al, , 2014Ma et al, 2009;Xu & Liu, 2005…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological stoichiometry of the epiphyte community in a subtropical forest canopy

Huang

Liu

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Epiphytes in tree canopies make a considerable contribution to the species diversity, aboveground biomass, and nutrient pools in forest ecosystems. However, the nutrient status of epiphytes and their possible adaptations to nutrient deficiencies in the forest canopy remain unclear. Therefore, we analyzed the stoichiometry of five macroelements (C, N, P, K, and Ca) in four taxonomic groups (lichens, bryophytes, ferns, and spermatophytes) to investigate this issue in a subtropical montane moist evergreen broad‐leaved forest in Southwest China. We found that the interspecific variations in element concentrations and mass ratios were generally greater than the intraspecific variations. And there were significant stoichiometric differences among functional groups. Allometric relationships between N and P across the epiphyte community indicated that P might be in greater demand than N with an increase in nutrients. Although canopy nutrients were deficient, most epiphytes could still maintain high N and P concentrations and low N:P ratios. Moreover, ferns and spermatophytes allocated more limited nutrients to leaves than to stems and roots. To alleviate frequent drought stress in the forest canopy, vascular epiphytes maintained several times higher K concentrations in their leaves than in the tissues of lichens and bryophytes. Our results suggest that epiphytes may have evolved specific nutrient characteristics and adaptations, so that they can distribute in heterogeneous canopy habitats and maintain the stability of nutrient metabolism.

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Litter Decomposition Rates of Biocrust-Forming Lichens Are Similar to Those of Vascular Plants and Are Affected by Warming

et al. 2021

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Despite the high relevance of communities dominated by lichens, mosses and cyanobacteria living on the soil surface (biocrusts) for ecosystem functioning in drylands worldwide, no study to date has investigated the decomposition of biocrust-forming lichen litter in situ. Thus, we do not know whether the drivers of its decomposition are similar to those for plant litter (e.g., importance of abiotic degradation through UV radiation), the magnitude of lichen decomposition rates and whether they will be affected by climate change. Here we report results from a litter decomposition experiment carried out with two biocrust-forming lichens (Diploschistes diacapsis and Cladonia convoluta) in central Spain. We evaluated how lichen decomposition was affected by warming, rainfall exclusion and the combination of both. We also manipulated the incidence of UV radiation using mesh material that blocked 10% or 90% of incoming UV radiation. Our results indicate that lichens decompose as fast as some plants typical of the region (k~0.3) and that the chemical composition of their thallus drives litter decomposition rates.Warming increased decomposition rates of both lichen species, and mediated the effects of photodegradation. While UV exposure accelerated the decomposition of D. diacapsis, it slowed down that of C. convoluta. Our results indicate that biocrust-forming lichens can decompose in the field at a rate similar to that of vascular plants, and that this process will be affected by warming. Our findings further highlight the need of incorporating biocrusts into carbon cycling models to better understand and forecast climate change impacts on terrestrial biogeochemistry.

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Slower rates of litter decomposition of dominant epiphytes in the canopy than on the forest floor in a subtropical montane forest, southwest China

Cited by 21 publications

References 50 publications

Mistletoes and epiphytic lichens contribute to litter input in Nothofagus antarctica forests

Mistletoes and epiphytic lichens contribute to litter input in Nothofagus antarctica forests

Ecological stoichiometry of the epiphyte community in a subtropical forest canopy

Litter Decomposition Rates of Biocrust-Forming Lichens Are Similar to Those of Vascular Plants and Are Affected by Warming

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