Moisture availability influences the effect of ultraviolet-B radiation on leaf litter decomposition

Smith, William K.; Gao, Wei; Steltzer, Heidi; Wallenstein, M. D.; Tree, Roger

doi:10.1038/npre.2009.3634

Cited by 15 publications

(31 citation statements)

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“…Wind, evaporation, solar radiation and UV-B radiation, soil`s capacity to keep humidity, drainage and temperature are some factors that affect litter humidity (Ruiz et al 2009, Dirks et al 2010, Smith et al 2010. In this case, probably the taller and more abundant canopy and understory dicotiledonean foliage cover of the primary forest (personal observation) help keeping the litter`s humidity higher and more stable the year around.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, it could be that the low humidity of the dry season reduces the decomposition rate. Nevertheless, this last item should be considered carefully as field studies show contradictions about the relation between litter decaying rate, temperature, rainfall, ultraviolet-B radiation and evapotranspiration (Cornejo et al 1994, Monedero & González 1995, Aerts 1997, Smith et al 2010, Eaton et al 2011, Salinas et al 2011; experimental studies on this topic are needed. This pattern could not be detected in the cypress plantation, maybe as a result of the absence of hardwood trees.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dynamics of leaf litter humidity, depth and quantity: two restoration strategies failed to mimic ground microhabitat conditions of a low montane and premontane forest in Costa Rica.

Barrientos

2012

RBT

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Abstract:Little is known about how restoration strategies affect aspects like leaf litter's quantity, depth and humidity. I analyzed leaf litter's quantity, depth and humidity yearly patterns in a primary tropical lower montane wet forest and two restored areas: a 15 year old secondary forest (unassisted restoration) and a 40 year old Cupressus lusitanica plantation (natural understory). The three habitats are located in the Río Macho Forest Reserve, Costa Rica. Twenty litter samples were taken every three months (April 2009-April 2010 in each habitat; humidity was measured in 439g samples (average), depth and quantity were measured in five points inside 50x50cm plots. None of the restoration strategies reproduced the primary forest leaf litter humidity, depth and quantity yearly patterns. Primary forest leaf litter humidity was higher and more stable ( =73.2), followed by secondary forest ( =63.3) and cypress plantation ( =52.9) (Kruskall-Wallis=77.93, n=232, p=0.00). In the primary (Kruskal-Wallis=31.63, n=78, p<0.001) and secondary (Kruskal-Wallis=11.79, n=75, p=0.008) forest litter accumulation was higher during April due to strong winds. In the primary forest (Kruskal-wallis=21.83, n=78, p<0.001) and the cypress plantation (Kruskal-wallis=39.99, n=80, p<0.001) leaf litter depth was shallow in October because heavy rains compacted it. Depth patterns were different from quantity patterns and described the leaf litter's structure in different ecosystems though the year. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (3):

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of leaf litter humidity, depth and quantity: two restoration strategies failed to mimic ground microhabitat conditions of a low montane and premontane forest in Costa Rica.

Barrientos

2012

RBT

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“…Therefore, photodegradation played an important role in straw decomposition. Straw N release is partially driven by initial N concentration (Smith et al 2010). N release occurs when the initial N concentration is between 0.6% and 2.8%.…”

Section: Straw Chemical Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of UV-A on Dry Rice Straw Decomposition under Controlled Laboratory Conditions

Li¹,

Huang²,

Wu³

et al. 2016

BioResources

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In arid and semi-arid areas, organic matter decomposition is stimulated by ultraviolet radiation. In this paper, the association between straw decomposition and UV-A exposure was evaluated. Oven-dried rice straw samples were chronically exposed to UV-A radiation and examined periodically for up to 90 days at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that noticeable disintegration of the fiber structure occurred on the irradiated sample surface in comparison to the control. At the end of the UV-A treatment period, straw mass had decreased by 5%, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) increased by 18%. The content of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin of the irradiated straw decreased by 29.3%, 14.4% and 49.3%, respectively. The marked loss of nitrogen and potassium in the exposed straw were also observed. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that treatment with UV-A radiation tended to decrease the mass loss rate and the thermal degradation temperature of the straw biomass from 220 °C to 208 °C. Infrared spectrometric analysis (ATR-FTIR) showed that functional groups, e.g., C-OH and C-O-C, were disrupted obviously due to UV-A exposure. These results suggest that ultraviolet-A irradiation facilitates straw decomposition by direct photochemical degradation.

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“…For example, UV-radiation is known to inhibit microbial processes, to change (senescent) tissue chemistry and to alter the dominating microbial and fungal communities, thereby affecting microbial decomposition rates in both directions (Formánek et al, 2014;Smith et al , 2010;Williamson et al, 1997;Zepp et al, 1998). Differentiating photodegradationinduced fluxes from biological sources in field experiments can be achieved by the comparison of different flux measurement techniques such as eddy covariance (EC) measurements vs. flux chamber measurements and/or soil gradient measurements, in that one method does not receive solar radiation (Rutledge et al, 2010).…”

Section: Measurement Of Photo-and Thermal Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of photo- and thermal degradation for CO<sub>2</sub> and CO fluxes in an arid ecosystem

et al. 2015

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Abstract. Recent studies have suggested the potential importance of abiotic degradation in arid ecosystems. In this study, the role of photo-and thermal degradation in ecosystem CO 2 and CO exchange is assessed. A field experiment was performed in Italy using an FTIR-spectrometer (Fourier Transform Infrared) coupled to a flux gradient system and to flux chambers. In a laboratory experiment, field samples were exposed to different temperatures and radiation intensities.No photodegradation-induced CO 2 and CO fluxes of in literature suggested magnitudes were found in the field nor in the laboratory study. In the laboratory, we measured CO 2 and CO fluxes that were derived from thermal degradation. In the field experiment, CO uptake and emission have been measured and are proposed to be a result of biological uptake and abiotic thermal degradation-production.We suggest that previous studies, addressing direct photodegradation, have overestimated the role of photodegradation and observed fluxes might be due to thermal degradation, which is an indirect effect of radiation. The potential importance of abiotic decomposition in the form of thermal degradation, especially for arid regions, should be considered in future studies.

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Moisture availability influences the effect of ultraviolet-B radiation on leaf litter decomposition

Cited by 15 publications

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Dynamics of leaf litter humidity, depth and quantity: two restoration strategies failed to mimic ground microhabitat conditions of a low montane and premontane forest in Costa Rica.

Dynamics of leaf litter humidity, depth and quantity: two restoration strategies failed to mimic ground microhabitat conditions of a low montane and premontane forest in Costa Rica.

The Effects of UV-A on Dry Rice Straw Decomposition under Controlled Laboratory Conditions

The role of photo- and thermal degradation for CO<sub>2</sub> and CO fluxes in an arid ecosystem

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Moisture availability influences the effect of ultraviolet-B radiation on leaf litter decomposition

Cited by 15 publications

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Dynamics of leaf litter humidity, depth and quantity: two restoration strategies failed to mimic ground microhabitat conditions of a low montane and premontane forest in Costa Rica.

Dynamics of leaf litter humidity, depth and quantity: two restoration strategies failed to mimic ground microhabitat conditions of a low montane and premontane forest in Costa Rica.

The Effects of UV-A on Dry Rice Straw Decomposition under Controlled Laboratory Conditions

The role of photo- and thermal degradation for CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; and CO fluxes in an arid ecosystem

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The role of photo- and thermal degradation for CO<sub>2</sub> and CO fluxes in an arid ecosystem