Insight into the indirect function of isopods in litter decomposition in mixed subtropical forests in China

Jia, Yanyan; Lv, Yanna; Kong, Xiangshi; Jia, Xiuqin; Tian, Kai; Du, Jingjing; Tian, Xingjun

doi:10.1016/j.apsoil.2014.10.015

Cited by 26 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Also, more recalcitrant tannins can decrease the palatability of litter (Asplund, Wardle, & Heil, 2013;Hättenschwiler & Vitousek, 2000;Madritch & Lindroth, 2015), and this may be the case here, with extracts negatively affecting the decomposers of Q. variabilis litter. For example, more isopods died with high concentrations of aqueous extracts (contained about 6.4% tannins) or tannins, reducing any feeding effects on litter decomposition (Jia et al, 2015). Tannins can also slow decomposition more directly, via microbial toxicity or by forming recalcitrant complexes with organic N (Kraus et al, 2003;Madritch & Lindroth, 2015), which can inhibit conversion of organic N to inorganic N, especially in broadleaf forest soil (Ushio et al, 2012).…”

Section: The Effects Of Tannins On Q Variabilis Litter Decompositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Secondary compounds of Pinus massoniana alter decomposers' effects on Quercus variabilis litter decomposition

Lin

Zhao

Muyidong

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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A major gap to understand the effects of plant secondary compounds on litter decomposition in the brown food web is lack of information about how these secondary compounds modify the activities of soil decomposers. To address this question, we conducted an experiment where aqueous extracts and tannins prepared from Pinus massoniana needles were added to soils collected either from P. massoniana (pine soil) or Quercus variabilis (oak soil). Our objective was to investigate the cascading effects of the two compounds on isopod (Armadillidium vulgare) activity and subsequent change in Q. variabilis litter decomposition. We found that in pine soil, both aqueous extracts and tannins (especially at high concentrations) had positive effects on litter decomposition rates when isopods were present. While without isopods, litter decomposition was enhanced only by high concentrations of aqueous extracts, and tannins had no significant effect on decomposition. In oak soil, high concentrations of aqueous extracts and tannins inhibited litter decomposition and soil microbial biomass, regardless of whether isopods were present or not. Low concentrations of aqueous extracts increased litter decomposition rates and soil microbial biomass in oak soil in the absence of isopods. Based on our results, we suggest that the high concentration of secondary compounds in P. massoniana is a key factor influencing the effects of decomposers on litter decomposition rates, and tannins form a major part of secondary compounds. These funding particularly provide insight into form‐ and concentration‐oriented effects of secondary compounds and promote our understanding of litter decomposition and soil nutrient cycling in forest ecosystem.

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Section: The Effects Of Tannins On Q Variabilis Litter Decompositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Secondary compounds of Pinus massoniana alter decomposers' effects on Quercus variabilis litter decomposition

Lin

Zhao

Muyidong

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Carbon fixed during photosynthesis is returned to the atmosphere, and the nutrients released from plant litter sustain plant growth in terrestrial ecosystems (Sayer , Hobbie ). Decomposition of plant litter is driven by many biotic and abiotic factors (Dale et al ), including substrate quality (structure and biochemical litter components; Berg , Aragón et al ) and decomposer community (bacteria, soil fauna and fungi; Blair et al , Powers et al , Jia et al , García‐Palacios et al ). Moisture and temperature are among the most important determinants of decomposition (Powers et al ): decomposition rate is faster in hot and wet environments compared with cold and dry ones (Del Grosso et al ).…”

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confidence: 99%

Determinants of litter decomposition rates in a tropical forest: functional traits, phylogeny and ecological succession

Szefer

Carmona

Chmel

et al. 2017

Oikos

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Plant litter decomposition is one of the most important processes in terrestrial ecosystems, as it is a key factor in nutrient cycling. Decomposition rates depend on environmental factors, but also plant traits, as these determine the character of detritus. We measured litter decomposition rate for 57 common tree species displaying a variety of functional traits within four sites in primary and four sites in secondary tropical forest in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. The phylogenetic relationships between these trees were also estimated using molecular data. The leaves collected from different tree species were dried for two days, placed into detritus bags and exposed to ambient conditions for two months. Nitrogen, carbon and ash content were assessed as quantitative traits and used together with a phylogenetic variance– covariance matrix as predictors of decomposition rate. The analysis of the tree species composition from 96 quadrats located along a successional gradient of swidden agriculture enabled us to determine successional preferences for individual species. Nitrogen content was the only functional trait measured to be significantly positively correlated with decomposition rate. Controlling for plant phylogeny did not influence our conclusions, but including phylogeny demonstrated that the mainly early successional family Euphorbiaceae is characterized by a particularly high decomposition rate. The acquisitive traits (high nitrogen content and low wood density) correlated with rapid decomposition were characteristic for early successional species. Decomposition rate thus decreased from early successional to primary forest species. However, the decomposition of leaves from the same species was significantly faster in primary than in secondary forest stands, very probably because the high humidity of primary forest environments keeps the decomposing material wetter.

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“…The materials and methods of chemical analysis, soil pH, soil microbial biomass and enzymatic assays in the present study were the same as that in Jia, Lv, et al ().…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among those decomposers, saprotrophic microorganisms are the principal drivers responsible for litter decomposition and nutrient cycling; powerful enzymatic capabilities enable them to breakdown the most recalcitrant components of litter into small utilizable molecules (Lü et al, ; Turner et al, ). While soil macro‐detritivores are consistently described as litter transformers and contributed more by interacting with microflora (García Palacios et al, ; Jia et al, ). By dispersing fungal spores, arousing microbial colonization in their feces and grazing stimulation, soil macro‐detritivores regulate the activity and community dynamics of the microbial microorganism (Crowther et al, ; Harrop‐Archibald, Didham, Standish, Tibbett, & Hobbs, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Isopods are saprophagous invertebrates that often are dominant members of soil fauna communities (Ott et al, ). The interaction effect between isopods and soil microorganisms on litter decomposition are also widely studied (Crowther et al, ; Jia, Lv, et al, ; Špaldoňová & Frouz, ). Thus, in this study, we added NH 4 NO 3 to simulate N deposition and Isopoda ( Armadillidium vulgare , Armadillidiidae) was chosen to assess its role in the decomposition of broad leaf ( Quercus acutissima ) and needle ( Pinus massoniana ) litter under atmospheric N deposition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nitrogen deposition slows down the litter decomposition induced by soil macrofauna in the soil of subtropical forests in China

Jia

Dalu

Chuan-wan

et al. 2019

Ecological Research

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As atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition elevates, extensive researches into the consequences of N deposition on litter decomposition process have been triggered; yet, responses of aboveground macro‐detritivores to atmospheric N deposition and their interactive effects on saprotrophic microorganisms and litter decomposition process are not thoroughly understood. By soil incubation, we assessed the influence of N deposition on the decomposition process of broad leaf (Quercus acutissima) and needle (Pinus massoniana) litter mediated by macro‐detritivore isopods (Armadillidium vulgare) and soil microorganisms. Changes in litter chemical composition (total carbohydrate and N), litter mass loss, soil pH values, soil microbial biomass and the activities of degradative enzymes were determined during a 6‐month laboratory incubation. Results showed that N addition enhanced Q. acutissima litter decomposition in the absence of A. vulgare, but decreased that when A. vulgare presence. N addition had no significant effect on P. massoniana litter decomposition regardless of A. vulgare presence or absence. However, N addition decreased isopod feeding contributions, with litter mass loss of 1.83–2.92 times lower than those of only isopod addition treatments in the two litter types. N addition inhibited soil microbial biomass and enzymatic activities related to N and phenolic metabolism of needle litter when isopods presence. Our findings suggest that N addition likely weakens the feeding activity of soil fauna and slows down the litter decomposition in broad‐leaved forests. This implies that a long‐term consequence of N deposition may induce the soil C accumulation and affect the balance of ecosystem nutrient flux in subtropical broad‐leaved forests.

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Insight into the indirect function of isopods in litter decomposition in mixed subtropical forests in China

Cited by 26 publications

References 44 publications

Secondary compounds of Pinus massoniana alter decomposers' effects on Quercus variabilis litter decomposition

Secondary compounds of Pinus massoniana alter decomposers' effects on Quercus variabilis litter decomposition

Determinants of litter decomposition rates in a tropical forest: functional traits, phylogeny and ecological succession

Nitrogen deposition slows down the litter decomposition induced by soil macrofauna in the soil of subtropical forests in China

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