Effects of Ips typographus (L.) damage on litter quality and decomposition rates of Oriental Spruce [Picea Orientalis (L.) Link.] in Hatila Valley National Park, Turkey

Abstract

This study investigated the eVects of Ips typographus (L.) damage on initial litter quality parameters and subsequent decomposition rates of oriental spruce tree species [Picea orientalis (L.) Link]. The needle litter was collected from highly damaged, moderately damaged and control stands on two aspects (north and south) and two slope position (top and bottom) on each aspect. The litter was analyzed for initial total carbon, lignin and nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and manganese) concentrations. The variability in nitrogen and calcium concentrations and ratios of C:N, lignin:N and lignin:Ca was signiWcantly aVected by the insect damaged levels. While nitrogen concentrations in needle litter increased with increasing insect damage (and consequently the ratios of C:N and lignin:N decreased), calcium concentrations decreased (and consequently the ratio of lignin:Ca increased). Aspect and slope positions explained most of the variability in carbon, lignin, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and manganese concentrations and lignin:P ratio between all studied stands. Litter decomposition was studied in the Weld using the litterbag technique. The litter from highly damaged stands showed highest decomposition rates followed by moderately damaged and control stands. The mass loss rates were signiWcantly positively correlated with initial nitrogen concentration and negatively with C:N and lignin:N ratios. The eVects of microclimate resulting from canopy damage on litter decomposition was also examined at the same time using standard litter with the same litter quality parameters, but they showed no signiWcant diVerences among the insect damage levels indicating that alteration of the litter quality parameters produced by I. typographus damage played a more important role than altered microclimate in controlling needle litter decomposition rates. However, changes in microclimate factors due to topography inXuenced decomposition rates.

Bark Beetles and their Natural Enemies on Oriental Spruce from the Black Sea Region of Turkey

“…damages younger trees or thin boughs of old trees (Postner 1974). Ips typographus prefers young trees (Sariyildiz et al 2008). Hylastes ater and H. cunicularis can suffice on thicker ancillary roots that appear on the ground after storm damage (Akkuzu & Guner 2008).…”

“…Adults collected from the collected logs were used for identification. Identification of the bark beetles and their natural enemies were based on Bernhard (1935), Essig (1958), Freude et al (1967Freude et al ( , 1974Freude et al ( , 1979, Postner (1974), Grü ne (1979), Schedl (1980, Selmi (1989), Weslien et al (1989), Wermelinger (2004, and Sariyildiz et al (2008). Furthermore, specialists (Temel Sariyildiz, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu, Turkey, and Erdal Selmi, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey) were contacted for identifications of these species and confirmed identifications.…”

Response of Soil Surface Respiration to Storm and Ips typographus (L.) Disturbance in Boreal Norway Spruce Stands

“…That the difference in SR h rates between treatments was weaker than expected may be related to the length of time since tree mortality. Following tree mortality, the C/N and lignin/N ratios of the needle litter decrease [20,22], while litterfall [21] and the mortality of fine roots and ectomycorrhizal fungi [19,57] increase, all of which could potentially stimulate decomposition and SR h . With time after disturbance, the more easily decomposable compounds would be utilized, leaving more recalcitrant debris and lowering the rate of decomposition [24].…”

“…Tree death reduces soil autotrophic respiration due to the cessation of C allocation to roots and soil [18,19]. Disturbance-induced tree mortality also results in changes in litter quality and quantity [20,21], light and water availability and soil temperature and moisture [2,6,12,22,23], soil microbial community dynamics [24][25][26], and the composition of the ground vegetation [13,27], all of which can be expected to lead to changes in the decomposition process and, hence, soil heterotrophic respiration.…”

Herbivory differentially alters litter dynamics of two functionally contrasted grasses

“…; Sariyildiz et al . ). Moreover, Chapman, Schweitzer & Whitham () proposed that herbivory induces recalcitrant compounds in deciduous trees, while it limits nutrient resorption in conifers, so that the herbivory–litter quality linkage depends on the plant taxa considered.…”