Non‐negligible contribution of subordinates in community‐level litter decomposition: Deciduous trees in an evergreen world

Guo, Chao; Cornelissen, Johannes H. C.; Tuo, Bin; Ci, Hang; Yan, En‐Rong

doi:10.1111/1365-2745.13341

Cited by 11 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Whilst the traits of dominant species (hereafter functional dominance) can strongly determine individual ecosystem functions (10), their role becomes less clear when considering multifunctionality (7,11). This is so because in an ecosystem, species that are functionally different from the dominant onesfunctional diversitymay contribute more to certain key functions than their lower abundance would suggest (7,11,12).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional rarity and evenness are key facets of biodiversity to boost multifunctionality

Bagousse‐Pinguet

Gross

Sáiz

et al. 2021

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The functional traits of organisms within multispecies assemblages regulate biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning. Yet how traits should assemble to boost multiple ecosystem functions simultaneously (multifunctionality) remains poorly explored. In a multibiome litter experiment covering most of the global variation in leaf trait spectra, we showed that three dimensions of functional diversity (dispersion, rarity, and evenness) explained up to 66% of variations in multifunctionality, although the dominant species and their traits remained an important predictor. While high dispersion impeded multifunctionality, increasing the evenness among functionally dissimilar species was a key dimension to promote higher multifunctionality and to reduce the abundance of plant pathogens. Because too-dissimilar species could have negative effects on ecosystems, our results highlight the need for not only diverse but also functionally even assemblages to promote multifunctionality. The effect of functionally rare species strongly shifted from positive to negative depending on their trait differences with the dominant species. Simultaneously managing the dispersion, evenness, and rarity in multispecies assemblages could be used to design assemblages aimed at maximizing multifunctionality independently of the biome, the identity of dominant species, or the range of trait values considered. Functional evenness and rarity offer promise to improve the management of terrestrial ecosystems and to limit plant disease risks.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional rarity and evenness are key facets of biodiversity to boost multifunctionality

Bagousse‐Pinguet

Gross

Sáiz

et al. 2021

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…In general, strong non-additive effect occurs in litter mixture with divergent traits (Kuebbing and Bradford, 2019). For example, deciduous subordinates significantly impacted litter decomposition in an evergreendominated forest due to the contrasting traits between deciduous and evergreen species (Guo et al, 2020).…”

Section: Relationships Of Trait Dissimilarity and Cwm To The Decomposition Ratementioning

confidence: 99%

Litter mixing effect on decomposition rate and nutrient release to water: low quality leaves of coastal species

Wei¹

2021

Preprint

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Non-additive effect on litter decomposition often occurs in mixed terrestrial communities but little investigated on coastal ecosystems. We selected three common mangrove species and one alien saltmarsh species from a coastal wetland stand to test whether non-additive effect occurs when the litters of these coastal species mixed together. To avoid the heterogeneity of soil conditions and to detect nutrient release into water, we conducted an in vitro litter-bag experiment in a glasshouse. Among three litter mixtures, the non-additive effect was observed in the litter mixture composed of mangrove species Aegiceras corniculatum vs. Kandelia obovata (antagonistic) and A. corniculatum vs. Avicennia marina (synergistic), but not in the litter mixture of A. corniculatum vs. Spartina alterniflora (the alien saltmarsh species). The strength of non-additive effect was unrelated to litter initial trait dissimilarity. Instead, litter decomposition rate and mass remaining of litter mixtures were strongly related to the community-weighted mean of leaf carbon. The nutrients and carbon released into water were more likely controlled by litter decomposition rate rather than by litter initial nutrient concentrations. These findings would lead to the expectations on ecosystem scale that the mangrove stand mixed with A. corniculatum and K. obovata accumulates more organic carbon in the sediment and releases less nutrients into water column than the stand composed of A. corniculatum and A. marina . It is also implying that the alien species S. alterniflora invasion may not reduce soil carbon stock of mangrove forests. These hypotheses need to be further tested and which will be suggestive for the protection or reconstruction of coastal wetlands.

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“…A strong non-additive effect generally occurs in a litter mixture with divergent traits (Kuebbing and Bradford 2019). For example, deciduous subordinates significantly impacted litter decomposition in an evergreendominated forest where the trait values were contrasting between deciduous and evergreen species (Guo et al 2020). However, we found no the relation of trait dissimilarity with the litter decomposition and the strength of non-additive effect.…”

Section: Relationships Of Trait Dissimilarity and Cwm To The Decomposition Ratementioning

confidence: 99%

Litter mixing effect on decomposition rate and nutrient release: low quality leaves of coastal species

Wei¹

2021

Preprint

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Coastal wetlands are among the most carbon-rich ecosystems in the world. Litter decomposition is a major process controlling soil carbon input. Litter mixing has shown a non-additive effect on the litter decomposition of terrestrial plants particularly of those species having contrasting litter quality. But the non-additive effect has been rarely tested in coastal plants which generally having low-quality litters. We selected three common mangrove species and one saltmarsh species, co-occurring in subtropical coasts, to test whether the non-additive effect occurs when the litters of these coastal species mixing together. We are also concerned whether the changes in the decomposition rate of litter will affect the nutrient contents in waters. A litter-bag experiment was carried out in a glasshouse with single and mixed leaf litters. A non-additive effect was observed in the litter mixtures of mangrove species Aegiceras corniculatum vs. Kandelia obovata (antagonistic) and A. corniculatum vs. Avicennia marina (synergistic). Whereas, the mixture of A. corniculatum (mangrove species) and Spartina alterniflora (saltmarsh species) showed an additive effect. The strength of the non-additive effect was unrelated to the initial trait dissimilarity of litters. Instead, the decomposition rate and mass remaining of litter mixtures were strongly related to the carbon concentrations in litters. Nutrient content in waters was dependent on the decomposition rate of litter mixtures but not on the initial nutrient concentrations in litters. Despite the behind mechanisms were not yet revealed by the current study, these findings have improved our understanding of the litter decomposition of coastal species and the consequent nutrient release.

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Non‐negligible contribution of subordinates in community‐level litter decomposition: Deciduous trees in an evergreen world

Cited by 11 publications

References 50 publications

Functional rarity and evenness are key facets of biodiversity to boost multifunctionality

Functional rarity and evenness are key facets of biodiversity to boost multifunctionality

Litter mixing effect on decomposition rate and nutrient release to water: low quality leaves of coastal species

Litter mixing effect on decomposition rate and nutrient release: low quality leaves of coastal species

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