Solar Photochemical Emission of CO2 From Leaf Litter: Sources and Significance to C Loss

Day, Thomas A.; Bliss, Michael S.

doi:10.1007/s10021-019-00473-8

Cited by 13 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Many studies have emphasized the important acceleration effects of UV radiation on litter decomposition in drylands (Austin & Vivanco, 2006; Day & Bliss, 2020; King et al, 2012). Here, we show evidence that the magnitude of the UV effect on litter decomposition in a humid forest system was not weaker than that in drylands.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

UV radiation doubles microbial degradation of standing litter in a subtropical forest

et al. 2022

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1. UV radiation has been recognized as a direct driver of litter decomposition by photodegrading organic matter in dryland ecosystems. However, the importance and mechanism of UV radiation on litter decomposition, especially on standing litter, in humid forest ecosystems remain unclear.2. We conducted a factorial experiment in a humid subtropical forest gap, manipulating the effects of UV radiation on the decomposition of standing litter under different microbial conditions.3. After 366 days of standing incubation, under normal conditions (UV pass with microorganisms), up to 40.63% of the litter mass was lost. However, under a UV pass without microorganisms, litter mass loss was only 16.30%. Under a UV block, the mass loss of litter with microorganisms was 27.68% and that of litter without microorganisms was 15.54%. Without microorganisms, UV radiation had no significant effect on the mass loss of litter carbon. However, UV radiation increased the DOC concentration of litter. And in the presence of microorganisms, UV radiation contributed to an increased mass loss of lignin by 16.72% and of cellulose by 14.75%. No negative effects of UV radiation on microorganisms were observed. These results suggest that UV radiation increased the net mass loss of litter by 106.67%, and this doubling promotion was achieved through microbial degradation.4. Synthesis. The increase in microbial degradation under UV radiation may be linked to the increased degradability of lignin and cellulose caused by photodegradation. Our study indicates that direct photodegradation by UV radiation could be weak in subtropical forests, but UV photofacilitation generates rapid turnover of carbon in this system.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

UV radiation doubles microbial degradation of standing litter in a subtropical forest

et al. 2022

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“…5). This result is consistent with findings from arid and semi‐arid ecosystems that identify photodegradation as the main driver of C turnover (Austin & Vivanco, 2006; King et al ., 2012; Austin et al ., 2016; Liu et al ., 2018; Day & Bliss, 2019; Berenstecher et al ., 2020). However, the magnitude of the effects in our study tended to be greater than findings from those environments: for instance the 60% increase in decomposition due to sunlight in semi‐arid Patagonian steppe (Austin & Vivanco, 2006), or the 23% increase across biomes (King et al ., 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…S2), this difference might make a minor contribution to difference in litter decay rates between sites of contrasting canopy openness. Low temperature by itself (< 25°C) leads to minor thermal degradation (van Asperen et al ., 2015), resulting in relatively low photochemical emission even in conjunction with high solar irradiance (Day & Bliss, 2019); whereas microbial activity induced by relatively high temperature may be counterbalanced by photoinhibition in the gap as discussed earlier. The biotic effect found in the gap, where mass loss was high in the dark treatments, was probably caused by relatively high microbial decomposition or decomposer herbivory (Figs 3, S6, S7), because micro‐ and meso‐fauna prefer darker environments (Lin et al ., 2018; Pieristè et al ., 2019, 2020a,b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This can indirectly benefit microbial activity (photofaciliation) by producing labile organic matter from recalcitrant compounds (Berenstecher et al ., 2020). Photodegradation, the result of photochemical mineralization and photofaciliation driven by sunlight (Lin et al ., 2018), is an important driver partially controlling the decay of litter in deserts, semi‐arid shrublands, grasslands, and savannas (Austin & Vivanco, 2006; Brandt et al ., 2009; King et al ., 2012; Day & Bliss, 2019). This potentially explains why biogeochemical models derived from mesic ecosystems always underestimate decay rates in drylands (Austin & Vivanco, 2006; King et al ., 2012; Austin et al ., 2016; Chen et al ., 2016; Adair et al ., 2017; Asao et al ., 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The contribution of photodegradation to litter decomposition in a temperate forest gap and understorey

et al. 2020

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 Litter decomposition determines carbon (C) backflow to the atmosphere and ecosystem nutrient cycling. Although sunlight provides the indispensable energy for terrestrial biogeochemical processes, the role of photodegradation in decomposition has been relatively neglected in productive mesic ecosystems.  To quantify the effects of this variation, we conducted a factorial experiment in the understorey of a temperate deciduous forest and an adjacent gap, using spectral-attenuation-filter treatments.  Exposure to the full spectrum of sunlight increased decay rates by nearly 120% and the effect of blue light contributed 75% of this increase. Scaled-up to the whole forest ecosystem, this translates to 13% loss of leaf-litter C through photodegradation over the year of our study for a scenario of 20% gap. Irrespective of the spectral composition, herbaceous and shrub litter lost mass faster than tree litter, with photodegradation contributing the most to surface litter decomposition in forest canopy gaps. Across species, the initial litter lignin and polyphenolic contents predicted photodegradation by blue light and UV-B radiation, respectively.  We concluded that photodegradation, modulated by litter quality, is an important driver of decomposition, not just in arid areas, but also in mesic ecosystems such as temperate deciduous forests following gap opening.

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“…CO 2 which is released to the atmosphere). This process is referred to as photochemical mineralisation or photomineralisation [ 384 , 385 ] (Fig. 3 A, right panel).…”

Section: Effects On Biogeochemical Cycles and Climate Feedbacksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactive effects of changes in UV radiation and climate on terrestrial ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and feedbacks to the climate system

Barnes

Robson

Zepp

et al. 2023

Photochem Photobiol Sci

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Terrestrial organisms and ecosystems are being exposed to new and rapidly changing combinations of solar UV radiation and other environmental factors because of ongoing changes in stratospheric ozone and climate. In this Quadrennial Assessment, we examine the interactive effects of changes in stratospheric ozone, UV radiation and climate on terrestrial ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles in the context of the Montreal Protocol. We specifically assess effects on terrestrial organisms, agriculture and food supply, biodiversity, ecosystem services and feedbacks to the climate system. Emphasis is placed on the role of extreme climate events in altering the exposure to UV radiation of organisms and ecosystems and the potential effects on biodiversity. We also address the responses of plants to increased temporal variability in solar UV radiation, the interactive effects of UV radiation and other climate change factors (e.g. drought, temperature) on crops, and the role of UV radiation in driving the breakdown of organic matter from dead plant material (i.e. litter) and biocides (pesticides and herbicides). Our assessment indicates that UV radiation and climate interact in various ways to affect the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems, and that by protecting the ozone layer, the Montreal Protocol continues to play a vital role in maintaining healthy, diverse ecosystems on land that sustain life on Earth. Furthermore, the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment are mitigating some of the negative environmental consequences of climate change by limiting the emissions of greenhouse gases and protecting the carbon sequestration potential of vegetation and the terrestrial carbon pool. Graphical abstract

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Solar Photochemical Emission of CO2 From Leaf Litter: Sources and Significance to C Loss

Cited by 13 publications

References 41 publications

UV radiation doubles microbial degradation of standing litter in a subtropical forest

UV radiation doubles microbial degradation of standing litter in a subtropical forest

The contribution of photodegradation to litter decomposition in a temperate forest gap and understorey

Interactive effects of changes in UV radiation and climate on terrestrial ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and feedbacks to the climate system

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