Key plant species and detritivores drive diversity effects on instream leaf litter decomposition more than functional diversity: A microcosm study

Rubio‐Ríos, Juan; Pérez, Javier Jiménez; Salinas, María; Fenoy, Encarnación; López‐Rojo, Naiara; Boyero, Luz; Casas, J. Jesús

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149266

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…In particular, changes in leaf quality of the deciduous N‐fixer Alnus could have major consequences given the key role of this species on stream ecosystem processes (Alonso et al, 2021; Pérez, Basaguren, et al, 2021; Rubio‐Ríos et al, 2021). We reported here for Alnus ranges of %N, %P and %lignin variation similar to those reported at the European continental scale (Lecerf & Chauvet, 2008), and 53% of its species leaf trait plasticity was remarkably explained by climatic variables, yet our forecasted decrease in leaf quality was relatively low (11%) and not statistically significant, compared to other species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…resulting from the forecasted substitution of deciduous by evergreen species (Kominoski et al, 2013; Salinas et al, 2018) and/or the decline of key plant species populations (e.g. alder; Alonso et al, 2021; Rubio‐Ríos et al, 2021). Moreover, given that leaf traits are highly responsive to environmental changes (Heilmeier, 2019; Soudzilovskaia et al, 2013), intraspecific changes may also occur, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate‐induced plasticity in leaf traits of riparian plants

Rubio‐Ríos

Pérez

Salinas

et al. 2022

Diversity and Distributions

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate‐induced plasticity in leaf traits of riparian plants

Rubio‐Ríos

Pérez

Salinas

et al. 2022

Diversity and Distributions

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“…Mounting evidence supports positive B-EF relationships across ecosystems Maestre et al, 2012;Mori et al, 2016;Raviraja et al, 2006), although this has not always been found (e.g. Dang et al, 2005;López-Rojo et al, 2019;Rubio-Ríos et al, 2021). The enhancement of ecosystem functions with species richness greatly depends on the functional differences among the species within assemblages as well as on the environmental context (Fetzer et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Elevated temperature may reduce functional but not taxonomic diversity of fungal assemblages on decomposing leaf litter in streams

Fenoy

Pradhan

Pascoal

et al. 2021

Global Change Biology

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Mounting evidence points to a linkage between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (B-EF). Global drivers, such as warming and nutrient enrichment, can alter species richness and composition of aquatic fungal assemblages associated with leaf-litter decomposition, a key ecosystem process in headwater streams. However, effects of biodiversity changes on ecosystem functions might be countered by the presumed high functional redundancy of fungal species. Here, we examined how environmental variables and leaf-litter traits (based on leaf chemistry) affect taxonomic and functional α-and β-diversity of fungal decomposers. We analysed taxonomic diversity (DNA-fingerprinting profiles) and functional diversity (community-level physiological profiles) of fungal communities in four leaf-litter species from four subregions differing in stream-water characteristics and riparian vegetation. We hypothesized that increasing stream-water temperature and nutrients would alter taxonomic diversity more than functional diversity due to the functional redundancy among aquatic fungi. Contrary to our expectations, fungal taxonomic diversity varied little with streamwater characteristics across subregions, and instead taxon replacement occurred.Overall taxonomic β-diversity was fourfold higher than functional diversity, suggesting a high degree of functional redundancy among aquatic fungi. Elevated temperature appeared to boost assemblage uniqueness by increasing β-diversity while the increase in nutrient concentrations appeared to homogenize fungal assemblages.Functional richness showed a negative relationship with temperature. Nonetheless, a positive relationship between leaf-litter decomposition and functional richness suggests higher carbon use efficiency of fungal communities in cold waters.

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“…Based on the main characteristics of litter from alder (high‐quality, ephemeral resource preferred by detritivores and microbial decomposers) and oak (low‐quality, persistent resource), we hypothesised that: Alder reduction (S1) and loss (S2) (a) would result in lower process rates of mixtures (i.e., decomposition, growth, changes in stoichiometry and sporulation) compared to the control, due to the overall decrease in litter quality and loss of key litter traits (e.g., the high nitrogen [N] concentration of alder); (b) with effects being stronger for S2 than for S1, increasing with time and being greater when detritivores are present (Rubio‐Ríos et al, 2021); Oak reduction (S3) and loss (S4) (a) would result in higher process rates of mixtures, due to an overall increase in litter quality (that boosts microbial activity, detritivore feeding and nutrient cycling in the short term) and loss of inhibitory litter traits (e.g., recalcitrant compounds and tannins, which are high in oak litter); (b) with effects being stronger for S4 than for S3, and increasing with time and in the presence of detritivores; The simultaneous loss of alder and oak (S5) would potentially counteract each other and render similar process rates to those in the control, although the loss of 2 species (and hence loss of key traits) makes predictions difficult (López‐Rojo et al, 2018); and Aquatic hyphomycete assemblages would be altered in all cases, but more strongly when species are completely lost (i.e., S2, S4 and S5) due to the often marked substrate preferences shown by AHs (Alonso et al, 2021; Gulis, 2001). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is highly favoured by consumers (Graça et al, 2001; López‐Rojo et al, 2018) and readily processed in streams, and therefore considered a key species for the maintenance of ecosystem functioning (Pérez, Basaguren, et al, 2021). In mixtures, alder speeds up decomposition through a positive selection effect due to its high palatability (Alonso et al, 2021; López‐Rojo et al, 2018; Rubio‐Ríos et al, 2021), which also attracts detritivores to these mixtures (Ferreira et al, 2012). Alder litter also enhances the decomposition and fungal colonisation of the other species in the mixture (Alonso et al, 2021; Larrañaga et al, 2020; López‐Rojo et al, 2018) by increasing overall palatability of the mixture by nutrient transfer through fungal hyphae (Handa et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional consequences of alder and oak loss in stream ecosystems

et al. 2022

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Alder (Alnus glutinosa) and oak (Quercus robur) are dominant tree species in European Atlantic mixed forests, and their leaf litter is a key resource for stream ecosystems. While alder litter has higher nutrient content and palatability than other species and is rapidly processed in the stream by detritivores and microorganisms, oak litter is a tougher and less nutritious but more persistent resource. Given that both species are declining due to the spread of the fungal pathogens Phytophthora alni and Phytophthora cinnamomi, respectively, we investigated how their reduction or loss might alter stream ecosystem functioning through changes in litter decomposition, invertebrate detritivore (Sericostoma pyrenaicum) growth and stoichiometry, and fungal decomposer assemblage characteristics. We conducted a microcosm experiment where we incubated litter mixtures representing different scenarios of alder and oak reduction or loss (and a concomitant increase in the other species), compared to a control that contained the four most common species in the study area (alder, oak, hazel [Corylus avellana] and willow [Salix atrocinerea]) in the same proportions as found in nature. The experiment lasted for 9 weeks, with the above variables measured every 3 weeks. Decomposition rates changed depending on which species was lost. Rates decreased as a result of alder loss and increased following oak loss. Sericostoma nutrient assimilation also responded to species loss, increasing and decreasing following alder and oak loss, respectively, possibly due to compensatory assimilation. Differences in Sericostoma nutrient concentrations among treatments decreased with time in the case of nitrogen, whereas they increased for phosphorus, probably due to microbial colonisation. The presence of oak also constrained microbial activity at the end of the experiment, reducing sporulation rates and causing differences in assemblage structure, probably due to inhibitory traits such as tannins or phenolic compounds. Treatments examining the loss of both species did not differ from the control, either in decomposition or sporulation rate, since loss of both alder and oak counteracted their effects. However, sporulation rates were higher for the scenario with loss of both species than for treatments with either alder reduction or loss, whereas sporulation rate and assemblage structure in the treatment with loss of both species were similar to the scenarios with oak reduction and loss, indicating that oak loss is more important for microbial activity. Changes in nutrient assimilation throughout the experiment suggested that effects of plant species reduction and loss can alter ecosystem functioning depending not only on litter palatability, but also on detritivore life stage. Overall, our results provide evidence for the importance of maintaining native riparian vegetation to preserve various ecosystem functions.

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Key plant species and detritivores drive diversity effects on instream leaf litter decomposition more than functional diversity: A microcosm study

Cited by 12 publications

References 76 publications

Climate‐induced plasticity in leaf traits of riparian plants

Climate‐induced plasticity in leaf traits of riparian plants

Elevated temperature may reduce functional but not taxonomic diversity of fungal assemblages on decomposing leaf litter in streams

Functional consequences of alder and oak loss in stream ecosystems

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