Leaf Litter Stoichiometry Research Articles

Stoichiometry of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus released from the leaf litter of various temperate tree species.

Dissolved organic matter and inorganic nutrients released from forest leaf litter through leaching are the important energy and nutrient sources that support the production of aquatic food webs. Leaf litter-derived dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a critical energy source for aquatic heterotrophic microbes, and inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus can enhance primary production. In this study, we experimentally measured the release efficiencies and amounts of DOC, total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) of the leaf litter from 11 temperate tree species by soaking the leaf litter in water for 28 days. We found that the maximal release efficiency (% of element released per estimated mass of the element) was the highest for P and lowest for N. These efficiencies were species-specific. Additionally, the DOC:TDP, DOC:TDN, and TDN:TDP ratios varied among the leachate of different leaf litter species. DOC:TDP increased with the C:P ratio in leaf litter biomass but is considerably lower; TDN:TDP was lower than the N:P ratio in leaf litter biomass as well; DOC:TDN ratio was higher than the C:N ratio in leaf litter biomass. These results suggest that the ratios of DOC to dissolved N and P nutrients released into water are related to, but not the same as, the stoichiometry of leaf litter biomass. Based on these findings, we concluded that changes in the vegetations with different leaf litter stoichiometry can alter the relative importance of detrital and grazing food chains in aquatic ecosystems.

C, N, and P stoichiometry for leaf litter of 62 woody species in a subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest.

To understand leaf litter stoichiometry in a subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest, we measured the contents of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in leaf litters of 62 main woody species in a natural forest of C. kawakamii Nature Reserve in Sanming, Fujian Province. Differences in leaf litter stoichiometry were analyzed across leaf forms (evergreen, deciduous), life forms (tree, semi-tree or shrub), and main families. Additionally, the phylogenetic signal was measured by Blomberg's K to explore the correlation between family level differentiation time and litter stoichiometry. Our results showed that the contents of C, N and P in the litter of 62 woody species were 405.97-512.16, 4.45-27.11, and 0.21-2.53 g·kg-1, respectively. C/N, C/P and N/P were 18.6-106.2, 195.9-2146.8, and 3.5-68.9, respectively. Leaf litter P content of evergreen tree species was significantly lower than that of deciduous tree species, and C/P and N/P of evergreen tree species were significantly higher than those of deciduous tree species. There was no significant difference in C, N content and C/N between the two leaf forms. There was no significant difference in litter stoichiometry among trees, semi-trees and shrubs. Effects of phylogeny on C, N content and C/N in leaf litter was significant, but not on P content, C/P and N/P. Family differentiation time was negatively correlated with leaf litter N content, and positively correlated with C/N. Leaf litter of Fagaceae had high C and N contents, C/P and N/P, and low P content and C/N, with an opposite trend for Sapidaceae. Our findings indicated that litter in subtropical forest had high C, N content and N/P, but low P content, C/N, and C/P, compared with the global scale average value. Litter of tree species in older sequence of evolutionary development had lower N content but higher C/N. There was no difference of leaf litter stoichiometry among life forms. There were significant differences in P content, C/P, and N/P between different leaf forms, with a characteristic of convergence.

Leaf litter carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) across China

The stoichiometric characteristics of plant tissue (living or dead) can influence carbon (C) and nutrient dynamics in forest ecosystems. Numerous investigations have focused on green leaves in site or regional areas, but few on leaf litter, especially for tree species with a wide distribution. Here, we collected 57 leaf litter samples of Chinese fir from 19 sites across subtropical China and determined the C, N and P concentrations and stoichiometric ratios, and related these leaf litter variables with geographical and climatic variables, as well as with soil chemistry, which were assessed through soil sampling at the 19 sites. The results showed that the mean leaf litter C, N and P concentrations (namely nutrient resorption proficiency, NuRP) were 458.3 ± 4.0 mg g−1, 8.9 ± 0.3 mg g−1, and 0.46 ± 0.02 mg g−1, respectively. The mean C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios were 52.9 ± 1.9, 1049.8 ± 43.8, and 19.8 ± 0.6, respectively. Concentrations of leaf litter N and P were strongly positively correlated with each other (p < 0.001), while no significant correlation was found between the C and N, or C and P concentrations (p>0.05). The leaf litter stoichiometry showed linear or nonlinear relationships with the geographical, climatic and soil chemical variables. Hierarchical partitioning (HP) analysis showed that the geographical and climatic variables explained most of the variation in leaf litter C and N concentrations and in the N:P ratio. Variation in the leaf litter P concentration was mainly regulated by soil chemical variables. Overall, our findings indicated that the resorption proficiency of the leaf litter was at intermediate level for both N and P. The leaf litter stoichiometry of Chinese fir was driven by the geographical location, mean temperature and precipitation conditions and soil nutrient status at a regional scale. Our results provided new insights into the ability of Chinese fir to adapt to future climate conditions, and also increased our understandings of drivers of the elemental biogeochemical cycle.

Leaf-litter stoichiometry and microbial phosphatase activity, respiration, and decomposition as phosphorus enrichment endpoints: A laboratory experiment

AbstractDeciduous-forested streams are often fueled by terrestrial litter detritus and have some of the lowest scores for biological condition in the United States (US). Detrital endpoints may be m...

Experimental N and P additions alter stream macroinvertebrate community composition via taxon‐level responses to shifts in detrital resource stoichiometry

Abstract Increases in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability are changing animal communities, partly by altering stoichiometric imbalances between consumers and their food. Testing relationships between resource stoichiometry and consumer assemblage structure requires ecosystem‐level manipulations that have been lacking to date. We analysed patterns of macroinvertebrate community composition in five detritus‐based headwater streams subject to experimental whole‐stream N and P additions that spanned a steep gradient in dissolved N:P ratio (2:1, 8:1, 16:1, 32:1, 128:1) over 2 years, following a 1‐year pre‐treatment period. We predicted that shifts in leaf litter stoichiometry would drive overall patterns of community composition via greater responses of shredders to enrichment than other taxa, as shredders dominate primary consumer biomass and experience larger consumer–resource elemental imbalances than other functional groups in stream ecosystems. Specifically, we expected litter C:P to be a significant predictor of shredder biomass given the greater relative imbalances between shredder and litter C:P than C:N. Finally, we tested whether shredder responses to enrichment were related to other taxon‐level traits, including body size and stoichiometry, larval life span and growth rate. Whole‐community composition shifted similarly across the five streams after enrichment, largely driven by increased shredder and predator biomass. These shifts were limited to the autumn/winter seasons and related to decreased leaf litter C:P, highlighting important links between the quality of seasonal litter subsidies and community phenology. Among 10 taxa that drove structural shifts, two declined while other taxa from the same functional/taxonomic groups responded positively, suggesting that specific life‐history traits may determine sensitivity to enrichment. Increases in total shredder biomass, and in biomass of several common shredders, were associated with lower litter C:P. Body C:P did not predict shredder response to enrichment. However, weak negative relationships between shredder response and body size, and larval life span, suggest that small‐bodied and short‐lived taxa may be more responsive to shifting resource stoichiometry. Moderate anthropogenic increases in N and P availability affect resource stoichiometry and can alter animal communities, influencing additional food web and ecosystem properties. We provide support for ecological stoichiometry as a framework for predicting such outcomes based on changes in the elemental composition of resource pools. A plain language summary is available for this article.

Leaf litter stoichiometry affects decomposition rates and nutrient dynamics in tropical forests under restoration in Costa Rica

Active restoration strategies increase the production of leaf litter in tropical forests, but little is known about their effect on litter decomposition and subsequent nutrient release. We quantified changes in leaf litter stoichiometry during decomposition in former pasture sites under contrasting restoration strategies (natural regeneration, applied nucleation/islands tree planting and plantation), as well as in nearby primary forest. Litterbags were employed to evaluate decomposition. We used a leaf mixture of either the four planted tree species in the plantation and island treatments or the nearby primary forest and compared them under a factorial design. Decomposition rates were similar between restoration treatments (p &gt; 0.5), but leaves decomposed faster in the forest mixture than in the plantation mixture (p &lt; 0.01). The content of Ca, Mg, K, P, and the C:N ratio were higher in the forest mixture at the beginning and during decomposition (p &lt; 0.05); the N content in the plantation mixture was higher at the beginning but lower during decomposition (p &lt; 0.05), which meant greater mobilization of nitrogen per unit of carbon lost. K and P had a strong initial release, while Mg was released more gradually. N and Ca had an irregular pattern of initial fast release, immobilization, and re‐release in the later stages. We conclude that the differences in rates of decomposition and nutrient release in these systems under restoration were at least partly determined by the floristic heterogeneity and chemical quality of the leaf litter that reaches the soil.

Is there a convergence of deciduous leaf litter stoichiometry, biochemistry and microbial population during decay?

Litter decomposition is driven by saprotrophic microbial communities. The structure of this community varies over the course of decomposition, which has been linked to the chemistry of litter resources. Here, we test the hypothesis that leaf litter from different tree species becomes more similar in terms of litter stoichiometry, C-biochemistry during the course of decomposition (convergence).We also test if these variations can be linked to shifts in microbial community structure and abundance. For this reason, leaf litter of four deciduous tree species — beech (Fagus sylvatica), oak (Quercus robur), alder (Alnus glutinosa) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) were sampled from a temperate forest in February, May and September 2010. We measured variations in leaf litter stoichiometry by elemental concentrations, C-biochemistry with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and litter microbial community structure and abundance with phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. For litter from beech, oak and ash, C:N and C:P ratio converged with time when exposed to the same environmental conditions during degradation. In contrast, C:nutrient ratios increased in alder litter over time. Litter C-biochemistry was to a large extent related to shifts in C:N ratios. Principal component analysis PCA of FTIR bands, revealed that divergence in C-biochemistry over the course of decomposition was dependent on litter type, and hence, with initial C:N ratio. Litter-decomposing bacterial community was highly relevant to C-biochemistry and environmental conditions (temperature and moisture) while fungi community was more nutrients-related.In conclusion, initially wide C:nutrient ratios tend to converge during decay; while nutrient limitation may lead to divergence of stoichiometry. In general, there was a trend towards divergence of C-biochemistry and microbial community structure.

三峡库区森林凋落物叶化学计量学性状变化及与分解速率的关系

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 三峡库区森林凋落叶化学计量学性状变化及与分解速率的关系 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201304090653 作者: 作者单位: 中国林业科学研究院亚热带林业研究所,中国林业科学研究院森林生态环境与保护研究所,中国林业科学研究院森林生态环境与保护研究所,中国林业科学研究院森林生态环境与保护研究所,中国林业科学研究院亚热带林业研究所 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 林业公益性行业科研专项(201104008); 长江三峡库区(秭归)森林生态定位站资助 Dynamic of leaf litter stoichiometric traits dynamic and its relations with decomposition rates under three forest types in Three Gorges Reservoir Area Author: Affiliation: Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry,Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry,Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry,Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:凋落物分解是森林生态系统生物元素循环和能量流动的重要环节,其过程是植物与土壤获得养分的主要途径。为了量化凋落叶化学计量学性状变化过程对分解的影响及对凋落物-土壤生物化学连续体的深层理解,用凋落物分解袋法研究了不同林型各自凋落叶化学计量学性状变化及与分解速率关系,结果表明:林下各自凋落叶分解速率是马尾松林 <栓皮栎林 <马尾松-栓皮栎混交林,马尾松林、栓皮栎林、马尾松-栓皮栎混交林凋落叶分解50%和95%的时间分别是2.11 a和9.15 a,1.93 a和8.45 a,1.76 a和7.77 a;凋落叶分解过程中,化学计量学性状变化明显,分解450 d后马尾松-栓皮栎混交林碳释放最快,栓皮栎林最慢;3种凋落叶起始N含量是栓皮栎林最高,马尾松林最低,分解450 d后马尾松林、栓皮栎林和马尾松-栓皮栎混交林N含量分别增加了66.67%、44.91%和44.52%,而P含量分别释放了30.80%、38.89%和42.29%。凋落物不同化学计量学性状与分解速率关系不同,3种林型凋落叶分解速率均与N含量呈正相关 (P<0.01),与C含量 (P<0.01)、C/N比 (P<0.01)呈负相关,与N/P比呈负二次函数关系 (P<0.01),而P含量与3种林型关系不同,与栓皮栎林 (P<0.01)和马尾松林(P < 0.05)呈负线性关系,与马尾松-栓皮栎混交林呈负二次函数关系 (P < 0.05)。研究表明,不同林型凋落叶分解中的养分动态趋向利于分解变化,N、P养分动态是生态系统碳平衡和凋落物分解速率的主要因素,混交林中混合凋落物的养分迁移是分解相对较快的原因。 Abstract:Litter decomposition is an important link between bioelement cycles and energy flow in the forest ecosystems, and the main source of nutrients for plants and soil. The relationships were studied between leaf litter stoichiometric traits dynamic and decomposition rate under different forest types using litter bag method in this paper to quantify the effects of stoichiometric traits dynamic on leaf litter decomposition and to get a better understanding to the biochemistry of litter-soil continuum. The results were showed as follows: the sequence of litter decomposition rate for the three forest types was Pinus massoniana stand (PM)< Quercus variabilis stand (QV)< P. massoniana-Q.variabilis mixed stand (PQ) and the litter decomposition rate was more and more significant with time. The remaining dry mass of litter in PM, QV and PQ were 67.59%, 64.75% and 62.13%, respectively after 450 d decomposition. The predicated period of litter decomposition 50% and 95% for PM, QV and PQ was 2.11 a and 9.15 a, 1.93 a and 8.45 a, as well as 1.76 a and 7.77 a, respectively. In these forest types, the concentration of C and P in decomposing litter decreased while N concentration increased with not significant. Leaf litter element dynamic was significantly different. The sequence of the initial C concentration was PQ< QV P<0.01), negatively with C concentration (P<0.01), C/N ratio (P<0.01), and negative quadratic function with N/P ratio (P<0.01). P concentration was different in three stands, and negatively linearly related to the decomposition rate for QV (P<0.01) and PM (P < 0.05), and negative quadratic related for PQ (P < 0.05). The decomposition rate and leaf litter stoichiometry was different among the three stands. The dynamic of C, C/N ratio and N/P ratio in the three stands were similar showing a significant positive correlation with N concentration. The possible reason for this may be that the plants in high latitudes are more susceptible to N restrictions, while those in low latitudes are more susceptible to P restrictions. Whether the plant is limited by N or P, the stoichiometry for different plants is influenced by different environmental factors. This study indicated that the nutrient dynamic during the decomposition of litter leaf under different forest types tend to help itself decompose. The concentration dynamic for N and P was the major factors in regulating carbon balance of ecosystem and litter decomposition, nutrient transfer in mixed litter is the reason for decomposition acceleration. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Leaf-litter stoichiometry is affected by streamwater phosphorus concentrations and litter type

The stoichiometric ratios of organisms and their food resources can influence C and nutrient dynamics in aquatic ecosystems. Several investigators have quantified linkages between nutrient enrichment and consumer stoichiometry for stream detritivores, but very few have systematically quantified the effect of P enrichment on leaf-litter stoichiometry. Here, we examine the potential stoichiometric changes of 2 species of leaf litter subjected to varying levels of P enrichment in laboratory microcosms and mixed species across a natural P gradient of streams in the Ozark Highlands Region, Arkansas, USA. Leaf-litter %P content increased and C∶P ratios decreased with increasing levels of P enrichment and with increasing lability of the leaf species. In the laboratory study, C∶P of maple and oak leaves in the control treatment was ∼2500, whereas this ratio decreased to 500 and 1000 in the high-P treatments, respectively. Total P (TP) was inversely related to leaf-litter C∶P along the natural P gradient of streams in the Ozarks. Our results add to the growing body of information on the potential bottom-up effects of anthropogenic nutrient loading in streams and the influence of water-column nutrients and leaf quality on this response.

Foliage nutrient and leaf litter stoichiometry of plants in the phosphorus-enriched soils of the lake Dianchi watershed, Southwestern China

Foliage nutrient and leaf litter stoichiometry of plants in the phosphorus-enriched soils of the lake Dianchi watershed, Southwestern China

Effects of stoichiometry and temperature perturbations on beech leaf litter decomposition, enzyme activities and protein expression

Abstract. Microbes are major players in leaf litter decomposition and therefore advances in the understanding of their control on element cycling are of paramount importance. Our aim was to investigate the influence of leaf litter stoichiometry in terms of carbon (C) : nitrogen (N) : phosphorus (P) ratios on the decomposition processes and to track changes in microbial community structures and functions in response to temperature stress treatments. To elucidate how the stoichiometry of beech leaf litter (Fagus sylvatica L.) and stress treatments interactively affect the microbial decomposition processes, a terrestrial microcosm experiment was conducted. Beech litter from different Austrian sites covering C:N ratios from 39 to 61 and C:P ratios from 666 to 1729 were incubated at 15 °C and 60% moisture for six months. Part of the microcosms were then subjected to severe changes in temperature (+30 °C and −15 °C) to monitor the influence of temperature stress. Extracellular enzyme activities were assayed and respiratory activities measured. A semi-quantitative metaproteomics approach (1D-SDS PAGE combined with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry; unique spectral counting) was employed to investigate the impact of the applied stress treatments in dependency of litter stoichiometry on structure and function of the decomposing community. In litter with narrow C:nutrient (C:N, C:P) ratios, microbial decomposers were most abundant. Cellulase, chitinase, phosphatase and protease activity decreased after heat and freezing treatments. Decomposer communities and specific functions varied with site, i.e. stoichiometry. The applied stress combined with the respective time of sampling evoked changes of enzyme activities and litter pH. Freezing treatments resulted in a decline in residual plant litter material and increased fungal abundance, indicating slightly accelerated decomposition. Overall, a strong effect of litter stoichiometry on microbial community structures and functions was detected, but decomposition was mainly driven by a combination of the investigated factors. Temperature perturbations resulted in short- to medium-term alterations of microbial functions; especially high temperature treatments blocked decomposing enzymes.

Litter Biomass and Nutrient Determinants of Ant Density, Nest Size, and Growth in a Costa Rican Tropical Wet Forest

ABSTRACTThe nutritional demands of animals vary by taxon. Across landscapes, communities of animals experience variability in the stoichiometry of carbon and nutrients within their resource base. Thus, we expect stoichiometry to contribute to the spatial variance in the demographic parameters of animal communities. Here, we measure how the composition of a litter‐nesting tropical rainforest ant community is influenced by spatial variation in environmental stoichiometry relative to litter biomass, a known predictor of ant density. We found the density of ants and their nests were strongly related to litter biomass and carbon: phosphorus stoichiometry. The spatial variation in soil nutrients, which determines leaf litter stoichiometry, was an excellent predictor of nest size in the two most common genera of ants. We found a negative relationship between species' growth rate and local soil stocks of phosphorus. Overall, the density of litter‐dwelling ants varied greatly across this tropical forest landscape and environmental stoichiometry can account for limits on ant density independent of the biomass of the leaf litter resource base.