Temporal and spatial patterns of remotely sensed litterfall in tropical and subtropical forests of Taiwan

Abstract

Litterfall is important for returning nutrients and carbon to the forest floor, and microbes decompose the litterfall to release CO 2 into the atmosphere. Litterfall is a pivotal component in the forest biogeochemical cycle, which is sensitive to climate variability and plant physiology. In this study, we combined field litterfall estimates and time series (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011) climate (the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature (LST) and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitations) and green vegetation (MODIS photosynthetically active vegetation cover (PV)) variables to estimate regional annual litterfall in tropical/subtropical forests in Taiwan. We found that time series MODIS LST-and PV-derived metrics, the annual accumulated MODIS LST, and coefficient of variation of PV, respectively, but not the TRMM precipitation variables were salient factors for the estimation (r 2 = 0.548 and p < 0.001). The mean (±standard deviation) annual litterfall was 5.1 ± 1.2 Mg ha À1 yr À1 during the observation period. The temporal dynamics of the litterfall revealed that typhoons and consecutive drought events might affect the litterfall temporal variation. Overall, the annual litterfall decreased along the elevation gradient, which may reflect a change in the vegetation type. The northeast and northwest facing slopes yielded the highest amount of annual litterfall (≥5.9 Mg ha À1 yr À1 ), which was in contrast with the southern aspect (5.1 Mg ha À1 yr À1 ). This variation may be associated with the dryness of the microclimate influenced by solar radiation. This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing time series MODIS LST and PV data to predict large-scale field litterfall, which may facilitate large-scale monitoring of biogeochemical cycles in forest ecosystems.

Disentangling Forest Dynamics for Litter Biomass Production in a Biosphere Reserve in Central India

“…Litterfall is an important pathway for the return of organic matter (OM) and nutrients from above-ground biomass (AGB) to the forest floor, which is directly linked to the soil C pool (Wang et al, 2016). Soil organic carbon depends on the quantity of litterfall and the rate of its decomposition (Oelbermann et al, 2004).…”

“…Few studies reported that litter mass production synchronizes with canopy processes linked to phenology, vegetative, and reproductive growth phases and biomass production (Zeilhofer et al, 2012). The quantification of the litter production at higher temporal and spatial scales is cumbersome and restricts the development of the linkage between litter crop and complex canopy processes (Wang et al, 2016). Based on the existing literature, climatic variables (temperature and precipitation) and stand characteristics (vegetation type, canopy density, age, site quality, climate, and phenology) are some of the important elements that influence litterfall (Qin et al, 2022).…”

Effects of typhoon disturbances on seasonal and interannual patterns of litterfall on coniferous and broadleaf plantations in Xitou, central Taiwan

“…For example, one review study reported that the litterfall mass of a boreal forest was on the low end, whereas that of a tropical forest was on the high end (Bray and Gorham 1964). Many studies have demonstrated that on a local scale litterfall in forest ecosystems is dependent on forest type, species composition, forest age, soil fertility, and disturbances (Bray and Gorham 1964;Liu et al 2004;Wang et al 2016;Lin et al 2017;Feng et al 2019). A disturbance, which refers to a temporary change in environmental conditions, may have the most profound effects on the amount and pattern of litterfall because of the changes caused to the ecological and physiological processes of the forest (Lodge et al 1991;Lin et al 2017).…”

Disentangling the long‐term effects of disturbance on soil biogeochemistry in a wet tropical forest ecosystem

“…Organic matter redistribution is likely to be a major driver of belowground responses to canopy disturbance associated with storm events (Lodge, Cantrell, & Gonz alez, 2014;Sanford et al, 1991;Silver, Hall, & Gonz alez, 2014;Turton, 2008;Vargas, 2012). High velocity winds result in a large deposition of biomass from the canopy to the forest floor (Frangi & Lugo, 1991;Horng, Yu, & Ma, 1995;Lin, Hamburg, Tang, Hsia, & Lin, 2003;Lodge, Scatena, Asbury, & Sanchez, 1991;Wang, Lin, & Huang, 2016;Whigham, Olmsted, Cano, & Harmon, 1991;Xu, Hirata, & Shibata, 2004). The contribution of green leaves and live branches to total litterfall during these disturbances results in a pulse of C and nutrients to the soil (Gonz alez, Lodge, Richardson, & Richardson, 2014;Lin, Chang, Wang, & Liu, 2002;Lodge, McDowell, & McSwiney, 1994;Lodge et al, 1991;Silver et al, 2014;Sullivan, Bowden, & McDowell, 1999).…”