Needle Mass Loss Research Articles

Early-stage needle litter decomposition in a cowberry-type pine stand in relation to hydrothermal conditions and phytocoenotic factors

There are several stages in litter decomposition, its rate being the highest in the initial stage. Early in the decomposition process, readily extractable compounds are primarily released, contributing to the annual nutrient cycle. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of early-stage needle litter decomposition depending on hydrothermal, phytocoenotic, and soil conditions. The study showed that the greatest effect on the rate of needle decomposition was produced by the hydrothermal parameters closely associated with forest floor temperature and moisture. Needle litter degradation in a middle-taiga cowberry-type pine stand amounted to 31.5 ± 3.5% over a growing season (110 days), 44.0 ± 1.4% over an annual cycle, and 55.8 ± 5.1% over a period of two years. The effect of the ground vegetation structure on needle litter decomposition was minor in the first year, but after two years of the experiment the greatest needle mass loss was found in the cowberry-dominated microgroup. The rate of needle litter decomposition in the bilberry-dominated microgroup was lower on coarse-sandy soil (32%) than on fine-sandy soil (38%), but only in one, warmer year, with no such differences observed in the cowberry-dominated microgroup.

Effect of elevation, season and accelerated snowmelt on biogeochemical processes during isolated conifer needle litter decomposition.

Increased drought and temperatures associated with climate change have implications for ecosystem stress with risk for enhanced carbon release in sensitive biomes. Litter decomposition is a key component of biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, but questions remain regarding the local response of decomposition processes to climate change. This is particularly complex in mountain ecosystems where the variable nature of the slope, aspect, soil type, and snowmelt dynamics play a role. Hence, the goal of this study was to determine the role of elevation, soil type, seasonal shifts in soil moisture, and snowmelt timing on litter decomposition processes. Experimental plots containing replicate deployments of harvested lodgepole and spruce needle litter alongside needle-free controls were established in open meadows at three elevations ranging from 2,800–3,500 m in Crested Butte, Colorado. Soil biogeochemistry variables including gas flux, porewater chemistry, and microbial ecology were monitored over three climatically variable years that shifted from high monsoon rains to drought. Results indicated that elevation and soil type influenced baseline soil biogeochemical indicators; however, needle mass loss and chemical composition were consistent across the 700 m elevation gradient. Rates of gas flux were analogously consistent across a 300 m elevation gradient. The additional variable of early snowmelt by 2–3 weeks had little impact on needle chemistry, microbial composition and gas flux; however, it did result in increased dissolved organic carbon in lodgepole porewater collections suggesting a potential for aqueous export. In contrast to elevation, needle presence and seasonal variability of soil moisture and temperature both played significant roles in soil carbon fluxes. During a pronounced period of lower moisture and higher temperatures, bacterial community diversity increased across elevation with new members supplanting more dominant taxa. Microbial ecological resilience was demonstrated with a return to pre-drought structure and abundance after snowmelt rewetting the following year. These results show similar decomposition processes across a 700 m elevation gradient and reveal the sensitivity but resilience of soil microbial ecology to low moisture conditions.

Decomposition rates and nutrient dynamics of Picea abies needles, twigs and fine roots after stem-only harvesting in eastern and western Norway

Decomposition of the finest harvest residues is important for the carbon and nutrient cycle in forest ecosystems both before and after tree felling. We assumed that decomposition is dependent on harvest residue fraction and chemistry, soil temperature and moisture, and aimed at determining decomposition rates and nutrient dynamics of needles, twigs and fine roots from newly felled Picea abies trees in two sites with different climate and topography. Decomposition of needles, twigs and fine roots in mesh bags was followed for up to six years and four years in harvesting sites in eastern and western Norway, respectively. The western site had a more humid climate and a steeper terrain than the eastern site. The mass loss after two years was significantly higher for needles (49–59%) than for twigs and fine roots (29–38%). Between sites, there was no significant difference between mass loss for neither needles nor twigs. Nitrogen accumulated in needles during the first year, but 35% of initial needle N had been released after three years. The initial needle and twig decomposition rate was dependent on soil moisture and topographic aspect. During the first three years, needle lignin concentrations retarded whereas P concentrations stimulated needle mass loss. For twigs, P concentrations stimulated mass loss, whereas higher soil temperatures reduced it. Lignin and P concentrations of plant parts and soil temperature were the most important factors for the first three-year mass loss. The slow release of nutrients shows the importance of remaining needles, twigs and fine roots as a long-time nutrient source in the ecosystems under study.

Secondary metabolites ofPinus halepensisalter decomposer organisms and litter decomposition during afforestation of abandoned agricultural zones

SummaryOver a century of agricultural abandonment across the Mediterranean region has favoured the installation of the pioneer expansionist species Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensisMiller). This species synthesizes a wide range of secondary metabolites that are partially released during needle decomposition, and which can thus affect the ‘brown food chain’. Litter decomposition is a key process connecting ecosystem structure and function, and involving microbial and faunal components.The goal of this study was to determine the effect of chemical compounds from Aleppo pine needles on the litter decomposition process along a gradient of Mediterranean forest secondary succession. Usingin situlitterbags, we compared the dynamics of decomposers, particularly the relative contributions of fungal and mesofauna biomass to litter mass loss (calculations based on the measured decomposer biomass, published fungal growth efficiency and mesofauna feeding rate), against the dynamics of secondary metabolites associated with decomposed needles in three successional stages (early, middle and late, i.e. pinewoods that were aged 10, 30 and over 60 years old).Our first key finding was that fungi accounted for the largest portion of overall litter mass loss (60–79%) and detritivorous mesofauna contributed to 8–12%. In the early stage of succession, fungal biomass after 6 months of decomposition was lower than in middle and late stages, and may be responsible for the delay in litter colonization by mesofauna. We linked this result to a clearly longer residence time for phenolic compounds in young pine forest, leading to an overall slowdown in the decomposition process.Synthesis. Litter phenolic content emerged as a key functional trait for predicting litter decomposition, delaying the colonization of litter by decomposers in Mediterranean forest ecosystems. Another key finding is that the relative contributions of fungi and detritivores to needle mass loss were different between the successional stages. From the food‐web perspective, the organic matter available for higher trophic levels thus remains unchanged beyond 30 years after pine colonization.

Nitrogen availability affects saprotrophic basidiomycetes decomposing pine needles in a long term laboratory study

Fungi, especially basidiomycetous litter decomposers, are pivotal to the turnover of soil organic matter in forest soils. Many litter decomposing fungi have a well-developed capacity to translocate resources in their mycelia, a feature that may significantly affect carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics in decomposing litter. In an eight-month long laboratory study we investigated how the external availability of N affected the decomposition of Scots pine needles, fungal biomass production, N retention and N-mineralization by two litter decomposing fungi – Marasmius androsaceus and Mycena epipterygia. Glycine additions had a general, positive effect on fungal biomass production and increased accumulated needle mass loss after 8 months, suggesting that low N availability may limit fungal growth and activity in decomposing pine litter. Changes in the needle N pool reflected the dynamics of the fungal mycelium. During late decomposition stages, redistribution of mycelium and N out from the decomposed needles was observed for M. epipterygia, suggesting autophagous self degradation.

Decomposing capacity of fungi commonly detected in Pinus sylvestris needle litter

Abstract A major part of the fungal community in coniferous litter consists of fungi whose taxonomic position and ecology are unknown. Here, nine isolates from within commonly occurring phylogenetic groups were tested for their ability to decompose Pinus sylvestris needles. In a 1-yr long incubation study, needle mass loss as well as changes in cellulose and lignin content were determined and compared to those caused by two litter basidiomycetes ( Marasmius androsaceus and Mycena epipterygia ) with recognized ability to decompose needles. A basidiomycetous Clavulina / Sistotrema strain appeared to be cellulolytic but not ligninolytic. Chalara longipes and three other strains within Helotiales also decomposed cellulose but not lignin, whereas Mollisia cinerea (also Helotiales) and two Dothideomycetes – Sydowia polyspora and a Mytilinidion sp., seemed unable to cause significant mass loss of cellulose. Lophodermium pinastri (Rhytismatales) readily decomposed cellulose, and also caused considerable loss of lignin.

Glucose and ammonium additions affect needle decomposition and carbon allocation by the litter degrading fungus Mycena epipterygia

Saprotrophic microorganisms in soils have traditionally been assumed to be carbon (C) limited, since additions of readily assimilable carbohydrates usually result in increased respiration. In many forest soils, however, rapid nitrogen (N) immobilization and increased microbial growth in response to N addition indicate N limitation. Here we test whether this apparent contradiction could be explained by changes in C allocation between microbial growth and respiration (i.e. changed C-use efficiency) under controlled conditions in laboratory microcosms. Respiration, mycelial production and needle mass loss were monitored after application of glucose or ammonium sulphate to Pinus sylvestris needles inoculated with the litter decomposer fungus Mycena epipterygia. Addition of ammonium resulted in a 32% increase in respiration, 31% increase in needle mass loss and increased mycelial production, indicating that both growth and activity of the fungus were N limited. In spite of N limitation, additions of glucose resulted in a 19% increase in respiration but had no effect on mycelial production and led to a 17% decrease in needle mass loss, indicating a reduced C-use efficiency of the fungus. The capacity of individual fungi to adapt their C-use efficiency to C availability implies that additions of labile C could increase respiration even under N-limited conditions.

A climate response function explaining most of the variation of the forest floor needle mass and the needle decomposition in pine forests across Europe

The forest floor needle mass and the decomposition rates of pine needle litter in a European climate transect were studied in order to estimate the impact of climate change on forest soil carbon sequestration. Eight pine forests preserved from fire were selected along a climatic latitudinal gradient from 40° to 60° N, from Spain and Portugal to Sweden. The forest floor (Oi and Oe layers) was sorted into five categories of increasing decomposition level according to morphological criteria. The needle mass loss in each category was determined using a linear mass density method. The needle decomposition rate was calculated from the needle fall (NF), the mass of each category and its mass loss. For each site, the remaining mass vs. the calculated time was best fitted by an asymptotic model which indicates that the organic matter should be made up of two fractions: a decomposable one and a recalcitrant one. NF was correlated with actual evapotranspiration (AET) whereas the decomposition parameters (decomposition rate of the decomposable fraction, first year mass loss, forest floor needle mass, age of the most-decomposed category) were related to a combined response function to climate (CRF) based on the van’t Hoff law for temperature and the water deficit (DEF) for moisture. Scenarios with temperature increases, without and with DEF increases, were applied to predict forest floor needle mass changes. C would be lost from the forest floor if only temperature increases and this loss would increase from south to north. If more droughts occur, the forest floor would then tend to sequester C according to the level of the DEF and the latitude of the site. For example, a site in Portugal which is presently the most active site of the transect in terms of decomposition because of its present favourable warm Atlantic climate would react with a large range of responses, losing carbon under an unchanged precipitation regime and sequestering up to 3 times its present stock of carbon under drier conditions.

Decomposition of secondary compounds from needle litter of Scots pine grown under elevated CO2 and O3

AbstractElevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and ozone (O3) concentrations have both been shown to affect plant tissue quality, which in turn could affect litter decomposition and carbon (C) and nutrient cycling. In order to evaluate effects of climate change on litter chemistry, needle litter was collected from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) saplings exposed to elevated CO2 or O3 concentration and their combination over three growing seasons in open‐top chambers. The decomposition of needle litter was followed for 19 months in a pine forest. During decomposition, needle samples for secondary compound analysis were collected and the mass loss of needles was followed. Main nutrients and total phenolics were analysed from litter in the beginning and at the end of the experiment. After 19‐month decomposition, the accumulated mass loss was about 34%; however, no significant differences were found in decomposition rates of needle litter between various treatments. Concentrations of total monoterpenes were about 4%, total resin acids 21% and total phenolics 14% of the initial concentrations in litter after 19‐month decomposition. In the beginning of litter decomposition, concentrations of individual monoterpenes –α‐pinene and β‐pinene – were significantly higher in needle litter grown under elevated CO2. However, concentrations of total monoterpenes during the whole decomposition period were not significantly affected by CO2 or O3 treatments. Concentrations of some individual and total resin acids were higher in needle litter grown under elevated CO2 or O3 than under ambient air. There were no significant differences in concentrations of total phenolics as well as nitrogen (N) and the main nutrient concentrations between treatments during decomposition. High concentrations of monoterpenes and resin acids in needles might slightly delay C recycling in forest soils. It is concluded that elevated CO2 and O3 concentrations do not have remarkable impacts on litter decomposition processes in Scots pine forests.

The long-term decomposition of Sitka spruce needles in brash

A chronosequence approach was used to estimate Sitka spruce brash needle decomposition rates over 7 years following clearfelling, by collecting brash needles from forest floors and incubating them in litterbags over a 2-year-period on three plots of age 0, 2 and 5 years from the time of harvesting. The data were sequentially fitted to produce a 7-year mass loss curve consisting of four exponential phases.: (1) a rapid mass loss phase for labile material over the first 105 days ( k = 0.51 a -1 ), (2) a slower second mass loss phase for the first plot up to 2 years ( k = 0.33 a -1 ), (3) a third yet slower exponential mass loss phase for the second plot between years 3 and 4 ( k = 0.28 a -1 ), and (4) a final rate of k = 0.10 a -1 for 6-7 years following clearfelling on the third plot. A new approach to analysis of litterbag data was used to demonstrate that if experimental designs use individual collection stations then decomposition rates can be determined for individual microsites as well as for sites as a whole. Microsite decomposition rates varied by up to 300 per cent on each of the three sites examined, but high R2 values (ranging from 0.71 to 0.99) indicate that, despite this large variation between microsites, decomposition within a given microsite proceeds in a consistent manner with time. Further, the decomposition rate for a plot or site can be expressed as k , or the mean of individual microsite decomposition rates. A review of long-term decomposition studies demonstrates that comparing k for individual years is more meaningful than comparing k for longer time periods. Nutritionally, N was retained in the Sitka spruce needles. Phosphorus and Ca content decreased at the same rate as needle mass loss but more labile nutrients such as K, Na and Mg were rapidly lost from the needles. This has implications for long-term nutrient cycling processes on these sites.