Slow litter decomposition in a Cecropia-dominated secondary forest of central Amazonia

Mesquita, Rita; Workman, S. W.; Neely, Constance

doi:10.1016/s0038-0717(97)00105-3

Cited by 73 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Our results agree with those of Mesquita et al (1998), who also worked in central Amazonia and who reported decay rates of successional species that were 2.4-4.7 times lower than those of oldgrowth forest species. However, from the study of Mesquita et al (1998), it was unclear whether low decomposition rates resulted from differences in litter quality between successional and old-growth forest species or from other differences between secondary and primary forests. As Mesquita et al (1998) argued ''many important agents of decomposition may be absent from degraded secondary forests, thus affecting decomposition rates irrespective of the kind of leaf material''.…”

Section: Effect Of Litter Typesupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Changes in the physical environment of fragmented forests often include an increase in understory air temperatures, and a decline in air and soil moisture with decreasing distances to forest edge (Williams-Linera 1990; Kapos et al 1997). Similarly, second-growth forests experience dramatic changes in microclimate, especially during the initial phases of succession (Mesquita et al 1998). The drier microclimatic conditions along forest edges and in early successional forests can, potentially, inhibit the activity of soil macroinvertebrates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Variations in the abundance, species richness, and composition of many groups of soil invertebrates are known to occur in response to edge effects or changes in vegetation cover (Lasebikan 1976;Belshaw and Bolton 1993;Eggleton et al 1995;Didham 1997;Carvalho and Vasconcelos 1999;Vasconcelos 1999). Similarly, deforestation and forest fragmentation may affect litter quality by favoring the recruitment of successional-tree species at the expense of old-growth species (Laurance et al 1998), as these two groups can differ strongly in nutrient, carbon, lignin, and phenolic contents (Coley 1983;Newberry and de Foresta 1985;Mesquita et al 1998;Xuluc-Tolosa et al 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of habitat, litter type, and soil invertebrates on leaf-litter decomposition in a fragmented Amazonian landscape

2005

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Amazonian forest fragments and secondgrowth forests often differ substantially from undisturbed forests in their microclimate, plant-species composition, and soil fauna. To determine if these changes could affect litter decomposition, we quantified the mass loss of two contrasting leaf-litter mixtures, in the presence or absence of soil macroinvertebrates, and in three forest habitats. Leaf-litter decomposition rates in second-growth forests (>10 years old) and in fragment edges (<100 m from the edge) did not differ from that in the forest interior (>250 m from the edges of primary forests). In all three habitats, experimental exclusion of soil invertebrates resulted in slower decomposition rates. Faunal-exclosure effects were stronger for litter of the primary forest, composed mostly of leaves of old-growth trees, than for litter of second-growth forests, which was dominated by leaves of successional species. The latter had a significantly lower initial concentration of N, higher C:N and lignin:N ratios, and decomposed at a slower rate than did litter from forest interiors. Our results indicate that land-cover changes in Amazonia affect decomposition mainly through changes in plant species composition, which in turn affect litter quality. Similar effects may occur on fragment edges, particularly on very disturbed edges, where successional trees become dominant. The drier microclimatic conditions in fragment edges and second-growth forests (>10 years old) did not appear to inhibit decomposition. Finally, although soil invertebrates play a key role in leaf-litter decomposition, we found no evidence that differences in the abundance, species richness, or species composition of invertebrates between disturbed and undisturbed forests significantly altered decomposition rates.

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Section: Effect Of Litter Typesupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of habitat, litter type, and soil invertebrates on leaf-litter decomposition in a fragmented Amazonian landscape

2005

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“…In an Amazon upland rainforest, Cornu et al (1997) observed the dominance of Ngao et al (2009) reported that C mineralization were first driven by soluble organic compounds and then by soluble phenolic compounds, but relations between litter quality and decomposition varied strongly in the dry and rainy seasons. Sierra and Marbán (2000) reported higher N mineralization in clayey Oxisols with increasing water content, especially for acid soils and temperatures >30 o C. Sierra (2002) reported that N mineralization was higher under fluctuating than under constant temperature, and higher temperatures had a stronger effect on re cal cit rant than on labile N. Eu cal ypt leaf decomposition in this study was faster than reported for native species in Caribbean islands (LORANGER; PONGE, 2002) and Amazon rainforest (MESQUITA; WORKMAN; NEELY, 1998;SMITH et al, 1998), comparable to legume tree plantations in Amazon (SMITH et al, 1998), and lower than in Mexican rainforest (ALVAREZ-SÁNCHES; ENRÍQUEZ, 1996).…”

Section: Litterbagssupporting

confidence: 47%

“…Litter decomposition is influenced by substrate quality and climate (AERTS, 1997), but also by the physicalchemical environment and decomposer organisms (GONZALES; SEASTEDT, 2001). Lack of decomposer fauna was suggested by Mesquita, Workman and Neely (1998) as responsible for slow decomposition in a Cecropia-dominated secondary rainforest in Amazon.…”

Section: Litterbagsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest Litter Decomposition as Affected by Eucalyptus Stand Age and Topography in South-Eastern Brazil1

2015

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-Forest litter decomposition is a major process in returning nutrients to soils and thus promoting wood productivity in the humid tropic. This study aimed to assess decomposition of eucalypt litter in the Rio Doce region, Brazil. Leaf litter was sampled under clonal eucalypt stands aged 2, 4 and 6 years on hillslopes and footslopes. Soil and soil+litter samples were incubated at two levels of soil moisture, temperature and fertilization. C-CO 2 emissions from soil measured during 106 days were higher at 32 °C than at 23°C, mainly for the 2-yr-old stand on footslope. When leaf litter was added on soils, C-CO 2 emissions were eight times higher, mainly on footslopes, with no effect of stand age. Leaf decomposition in situ, assessed with a litterbag experiment showed a mean weight loss of at least 50% during 365 days, reaching 74% for 2 yr-old stands on footslopes. In comparison with data from the native forest and the literature, no apparent restrictions were found in eucalypt litter decomposition. Differences between in vitro and in situ results, and between eucalypt and native forest, were most likely related to the response of diverse decomposer communities and to substrate quality.Keywords: Soil respiration; Litterbag; CO 2 evolution. DECOMPOSIÇÃO DE SERAPILHEIRA FLORESTAL: EFEITO DA IDADE DO EUCALIPTO E TOPOGRAFIA NO SUDESTE DO BRASILRESUMO -A decomposição de serapilheira florestal é um processo importante ao retornar nutrientes ao solo e, assim, estimular a produtividade da madeira no trópico úmido. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a decomposição de serapilheira de eucalipto na região do rio Doce, MG. Frações foliares foram amostradas em plantações de eucalipto nas idades de 2, 4 e 6 anos e posições de encosta e baixada. Amostras de solo e solo + fragmentos de folhas foram incubadas em dois níveis de umidade, temperatura e fertilização. A quantidade de C-CO 2 emitida pelo solo no período de 106 dias foi maior na temperatura de incubação de 32 o C do que a 23 o C, especialmente em solos de baixada, na idade de 2 anos. A respiração do solo foi intensificada oito vezes pela presença de fragmentos de folhas sobre o solo, principalmente em solos da baixada, e não houve efeito significativo para a idade. A decomposição foliar in situ, avaliada em um experimento de sacos de decomposição, apresentou perda média de no mínimo 50% durante 365 dias, alcançando 74% para o eucalipto em dois anos, na baixada. Após a comparação com uma mata nativa e dados da literatura nacional, não foi encontrada nenhuma restrição aparente na decomposição da fração foliar do eucalipto. Diferenças entre os resultados in vitro e in situ e entre a mata nativa e o eucalipto podem estar relacionadas a uma diferente comunidade de decompositores e à qualidade do substrato foliar.Palavras-chave: Respiração do solo; Sacos de decomposição; Emissão de CO 2 .

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Initial lignin content as an indicator for predicting leaf litter decomposition and the mixed effects of two perennial gramineous plants in a desert steppe: A 5‐year long‐term study

et al. 2019

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Leaf is the main component of litter that often exists in mixed forms in nature. However, the mixed effects of leaf litter decomposition in desert ecosystems remain unclear. To reveal the mixed effects and the influence of litter quality on leaf litter decomposition in desert ecosystems, a 5‐year long‐term study was conducted to compare the observed and expected leaf litter mass loss in single‐species and mixed (equal proportions and natural proportions) litters of two typical perennial gramineous plants (Stipa klemenzii and Achnatherum splendens) in a desert steppe in Northern China. The relationship between litter mass loss and litter qualities was also analysed. The results showed that (a) after 5 years of decomposition, the mass losses of mixed litter in natural proportions and S. klemenzii litter were significantly higher than those of mixed litter in equal proportions and A. splendens litter; (b) the mixed effects of two litters in different ratios varied with time, and the synergistic effect only appeared in the second year when an easily decomposed litter (S. klemenzii) was mixed with a slowly decomposing litter (A. splendens); and (c) litter mass loss was not correlated with the initial carbon or nitrogen content but was negatively correlated with the initial lignin content, and the initial lignin content also had a significant effect on litter mixed effects of these two perennial gramineous plant litters. These results can suggest that the initial lignin content is an indicator of predicting decomposition and mixed effects of litter with low nitrogen content.

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Slow litter decomposition in a Cecropia-dominated secondary forest of central Amazonia

Cited by 73 publications

References 37 publications

Influence of habitat, litter type, and soil invertebrates on leaf-litter decomposition in a fragmented Amazonian landscape

Influence of habitat, litter type, and soil invertebrates on leaf-litter decomposition in a fragmented Amazonian landscape

Forest Litter Decomposition as Affected by Eucalyptus Stand Age and Topography in South-Eastern Brazil1

Initial lignin content as an indicator for predicting leaf litter decomposition and the mixed effects of two perennial gramineous plants in a desert steppe: A 5‐year long‐term study

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