Tree litter functional diversity and nitrogen concentration enhance litter decomposition via changes in earthworm communities

Biodiversity is a major driver of numerous ecosystem functions. However, consequences of changes in forest biodiversity remain difficult to predict because of limited knowledge about how tree diversity influences ecosystem functions. Litter decomposition is a key process affecting nutrient cycling, productivity, and carbon storage and can be influenced by plant biodiversity. Leaf litter species composition, environmental conditions, and the detritivore community are main components of the decomposition process, but their complex interactions are poorly understood. In this study, we tested the effect of tree functional diversity (FD) on litter decomposition in a field experiment manipulating tree diversity and partitioned the effects of litter physiochemical diversity and the detritivore community. We used litterbags with different mesh sizes to separate the effects of microorganisms and microfauna, mesofauna, and macrofauna and monitored soil fauna using pitfall traps and earthworm extractions. We hypothesized that higher tree litter FD accelerates litter decomposition due to the availability of complementary food components and higher activity of detritivores. Although we did not find direct effects of tree FD on litter decomposition, we identified key litter traits and macrodetritivores that explained part of the process. Litter mass loss was found to decrease with an increase in leaf litter carbon:nitrogen ratio. Moreover, litter mass loss increased with an increasing density of epigeic earthworms, with most pronounced effects in litterbags with a smaller mesh size, indicating indirect effects. Higher litter FD and litter nutrient content were found to increase the density of surface‐dwelling macrofauna and epigeic earthworm biomass. Based on structural equation modeling, we conclude that tree FD has a weak positive effect on soil surface litter decomposition by increasing the density of epigeic earthworms and that litter nitrogen‐related traits play a central role in tree composition effects on soil fauna and decomposition.     

陆地生态系统混合凋落物分解研究进展

凋落物分解在陆地生态系统养分循环与能量流动中具有重要作用,是碳、氮及其他重要矿质养分在生态系统生命组分间循环与平衡的核心生态过程。自然生态系统中,植物群落大多具有较高的物种丰富度和多样性,其混合凋落物在分解过程中也更有可能发生养分传递、化学抑制等种间互作,形成多样化的分解生境,多样性较高的分解者类群以及复杂的级联效应分解,这些因素和过程均对研究混合凋落物分解过程、揭示其内在机制形成了极大的挑战。从构成混合凋落物物种丰富度和多样性对分解生境、分解者多样性及其营养级联效应的影响等方面,综合阐述混合凋落物对陆地生态系统凋落物分解的影响,探讨生物多样性在凋落物分解中的作用。通过综述近些年的研究发现,有超过60%的混合凋落物对其分解速率的影响存在正向或负向的效应。养分含量有差异的凋落物混合分解过程中,分解者优先利用高质量凋落物,使低质量的凋落物反而具有了较高的养分有效性,引起低质量凋落物分解加快并最终使混合凋落物整体分解速率加快;而凋落物物种丰富度对土壤动物群落总多度有轻微的影响或几乎没有影响,但是对线虫和大型土壤动物的群落组成和多样性有显著影响,并随着分解阶段呈现一定动态变化;混合凋落物改变土壤微生物生存的理化环境,为微生物提供更多丰富的分解底物和养分,优化微生物种群数量和群落结构及其分泌酶的活性,并进一步促进了混合凋落物的分解。这些基于植物-土壤-分解者系统的动态分解过程的研究,表明混合凋落物分解作用不只是经由凋落物自身质量的改变,更会通过逐级影响分解者多样性水平而进一步改变分解速率和养分释放动态,说明生物多样性确实在一定程度上调控凋落物分解及其养分释放过程。     

凋落物多样性及组成对凋落物分解和土壤微生物群落的影响

凋落物分解是生态系统营养物质循环的核心过程,而土壤微生物群落在凋落物分解过程中扮演着极其重要且不可替代的角色。随着生物多样性的丧失日益严峻,探讨凋落物多样性及组成对凋落物分解和土壤微生物群落的影响,不仅有助于了解凋落物分解的内在机制,而且可为退化草原生态系统的恢复提供参考。以内蒙古呼伦贝尔草原退化恢复群落中的草本植物为研究对象,依据植物多度、盖度、频度和物种的重要值及其在群落中的恢复程度筛选出排序前4的羊草（Leymus chinensis）、茵陈蒿（Artemisia capillaris）、麻花头（Serratula centauroides）、二裂委陵菜（Potentilla bifurca）的凋落物为实验材料,通过设置3种凋落物多样性水平（1,2,4）,包括11种凋落物组合（单物种凋落物共4种,两物种凋落物混合共6种,四物种凋落物混合共1种）,利用磷脂脂肪酸（PLFA）方法来研究分解60 d后凋落物多样性及组成对凋落物分解和土壤微生物群落的影响。结果表明：（1）凋落物物种多样性仅对C残余率具有显著影响,表现在两物种混合凋落物C残余率显著低于单物种凋落物,而凋落物组成对所观测的4个凋落物分解参数（质量、C、N残余率以及C/N）均具有显著影响;（2）凋落物物种多样性对细菌（B）含量具有显著影响,而凋落物组成对真菌（F）含量具有显著影响,两者对F/B以及微生物总量均无显著影响;（3）冗余分析结果表明凋落物组成与凋落物分解相关指标（凋落物质量、C、N残余率及C/N）和土壤微生物（真菌、细菌含量）的相关关系高于凋落物多样性。（4）进一步建立结构方程模型（Structural Equation Model,SEM）发现,凋落物初始C含量对凋落物质量、C、N残余率及C/N有显著正的直接影响;凋落物木质素含量对凋落物质量、C、N残余率有显著正的直接影响;凋落物初始N含量对N残余率有显著正的直接影响,而对C残余率及C/N有显著负的直接影响;凋落物初始C/N对凋落物质量、N残余率有显著正的直接影响,而对C/N有显著负的直接影响。此外,凋落物初始C、N、木质素含量及C/N均对真菌含量具有显著正影响,并可通过真菌对凋落物质量分解产生显著负的间接影响。以上结果表明该退化恢复区域优势种凋落物分解以初始C、木质素为主导,主要通过土壤真菌影响凋落物的分解进程,这将减缓凋落物的分解速率进而减慢草原生态系统的进程。这些结果为凋落物多样性及组成对自身分解和土壤微生物群落的影响提供了实验依据,也为进一步分析凋落物分解内在机制以及草原生态系统的恢复提供了数据参考。     

森林凋落物分解重要影响因子及其研究进展

当前 ,森林凋落物分解被放在陆地生态系统碳平衡背景下进行研究 ,认识凋落物分解过程的影响因素和影响机理对理解地表碳平衡具有重要意义。凋落物在分解过程中 ,伴随有养分含量的变化 ,低品质凋落物在分解前期 (可达 2～ 3年 )会从环境中固定养分 ,特别是氮磷养分 ,而在后期则会释放出养分。凋落物本身的养分含量是影响分解速率的重要因素 ,高养分含量的凋落物分解快些 ,阔叶凋落物比针叶凋落物分解快些。有资料显示 ,在总分解率为2 9 4 %的构成中 ,理化因素、微生物因素与土壤动物因素对凋落物分解的贡献率分别为 7 2 %、8 0 %和 14 2 %。不同类型凋落物在分解过程中的土壤动物类群也不同 ,它也是造成凋落物分解速率不同的关键因素 ,通常阔叶树种凋落物分解过程中 ,会有更多的微节肢动物出现。CO2浓度升高将造成植物有机质含碳量与其它养分的比值升高 ,形成低品质的凋落物 ,从而间接影响凋落物分解速率 ,一般认为 ,全球CO2 浓度升高会加强土壤作为碳汇的功能。     

C,N and P fertilization in an Amazonian rainforest supports stoichiometric dissimilarity as a driver of litter diversity effects on decomposition

Plant leaf litter generally decomposes faster as a group of different species than when individual species decompose alone, but underlying mechanisms of these diversity effects remain poorly understood. Because resource C : N : P stoichiometry (i.e. the ratios of these key elements) exhibits strong control on consumers, we supposed that stoichiometric dissimilarity of litter mixtures (i.e. the divergence in C : N : P ratios among species) improves resource complementarity to decomposers leading to faster mixture decomposition. We tested this hypothesis with: (i) a wide range of leaf litter mixtures of neotropical tree species varying in C : N : P dissimilarity, and (ii) a nutrient addition experiment (C, N and P) to create stoichiometric similarity. Litter mixtures decomposed in the field using two different types of litterbags allowing or preventing access to soil fauna. Litter mixture mass loss was higher than expected from species decomposing singly, especially in presence of soil fauna. With fauna, synergistic litter mixture effects increased with increasing stoichiometric dissimilarity of litter mixtures and this positive relationship disappeared with fertilizer addition. Our results indicate that litter stoichiometric dissimilarity drives mixture effects via the nutritional requirements of soil fauna. Incorporating ecological stoichiometry in biodiversity research allows refinement of the underlying mechanisms of how changing biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning.     

Litter Decomposition Within the Canopy and Forest Floor of Three Tree Species in a Tropical Lowland Rain forest,Costa Rica

The rain forest canopy hosts a large percentage of the world's plant biodiversity, which is maintained, in large part, by internal nutrient cycling. This is the first study to examine the effects of site (canopy, forest floor) and tree species (Dipteryx panamensis, Lecythis ampla, Hyeronima alchorneoides) on decay rates of a common substrate and in situ leaf litter in a tropical forest in Costa Rica. Decay rates were slower for both substrates within the canopy than on the forest floor. The slower rate of mass loss of the common substrate in the canopy was due to differences in microclimate between sites. Canopy litter decay rates were negatively correlated with litter lignin:P ratios, while forest floor decay rates were negatively correlated with lignin concentrations, indicating that the control of litter decay rates in the canopy is P availability while that of the forest floor is carbon quality. The slower cycling rates within the canopy are consistent with lower foliar nutrient concentrations of epiphytes compared with forest floor-rooted plants. Litter decay rates, but not common substrate decay rates, varied among tree species. The lack of variation in common substrate decay among tree species eliminated microclimatic variation as a possible cause for differences in litter decay and points to variation in litter quality, nutrient availability and decomposer community of tree species as the causal factors. The host tree contribution to canopy nutrient cycling via litter quality and inputs may influence the quality and quantity of canopy soil resources.     

Advances in the effect of nitrogen deposition on grassland litter decomposition

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition has increased in the last several decades due to anthropogenic activities and global changes. Increasing nitrogen deposition has become an important factor regulating carbon cycle in grassland ecosystems. Litter decomposition, a key process of carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, is the main source of soil carbon pool and the basis of soil fertility maintenance. Elevated nitrogen deposition could affect litter decomposition by raising soil nitrogen availability, increasing the quantity and quality of litter inputs, and altering soil microorganism and soil conditions. Litter decomposition are complex biological, physical and chemical processes, which were affected by abiotic, biological factors and their interactions. The effects of nitrogen deposition on litter decomposition and the underlying mechanisms were discussed in this paper, including the aspactes of soil nitrogen availability, litter production, litter quality, microclimate, soil microorganism and enzyme activities. The main research contents, directions, methods and existing problems of litter decomposition in grasslands were discussed. We also discussed the prospect of future directions to study the interaction and feedback between nitrogen deposition and grassland ecosystem carbon cycling process.     

全球气候变暖对凋落物分解的影响

凋落物分解作为生态系统核心过程,参与生态系统碳的周转与循环,影响生态系统碳的收支平衡,调控生态系统对全球气候变暖的反馈结果。全球气候变暖通过环境因素、凋落物数量和质量以及分解者3个方面,直接或间接地作用于凋落物分解过程,并进一步影响土壤养分周转和碳库动态。气候变暖可通过升高温度和改变实际蒸散量等环境因素直接作用于凋落物分解。气候变暖可引起植物物种短期内碳、氮和木质素等化学性质的改变以及群落中物种组成的长期变化从而改变凋落物质量。在凋落物分解过程中,土壤分解者亚系统作为主要生命组分(土壤动物和微生物)彼此相互作用、相互协调共同参与调节凋落物的分解过程。凋落物分解可以通过改变土壤微生物量、微生物活动和群落结构来加快微生物养分的固定或矿化,以形成新的养分利用模式来改变土壤有机质从而对气候变化做出响应。未来凋落物分解的研究方向应基于大尺度跨区域分解实验和长期实验,关注多个因子交互影响下,分解过程中碳、氮养分释放、地上/地下凋落物分解生物学过程与联系、分解者亚系统营养级联效应等方面。     

暖温带麻栎林凋落物调节土壤碳排放通量对降雨脉冲的响应

凋落物既是森林生态系统养分循环的重要构件,又是森林土壤环境和功能的关键调节因子。降雨脉冲导致的土壤碳排放变异是陆地生态系统碳汇能力评价的不确定性来源之一。凋落物在调节土壤碳排放对降雨脉冲的响应中的作用仍缺乏科学的评价。通过在暖温带栎类落叶阔叶林中设置不同凋落物处理(对照、去除凋落物和加倍凋落物)和降雨模拟实验以阐明凋落物数量变化对土壤呼吸脉冲的影响。结果表明：模拟降雨脉冲之前,不同凋落物处理下的土壤呼吸存在显著差异;与对照相比,加倍凋落物导致土壤呼吸速率显著增加57.6%,然而,去除凋落物则对土壤呼吸无显著影响。模拟降雨后52小时内,对照、去除凋落物和加倍凋落物样方的土壤累积碳排放量分别为251.69 gC/m~2,250.93 gC/m~2和409.01 gC/m~2,加倍凋落物处理下的土壤碳排放量显著高于对照和去除凋落物处理;然而,去除凋落物与对照之间无显著差异。此外,不同凋落物处理下土壤呼吸的脉冲持续时间存在显著差异;加倍凋落物显著提高降雨后土壤呼吸脉冲的持续时间,分别比对照和去除凋落物高出262%和158%。多元逐步回归分析表明,土壤总碳排放通量和土壤呼吸的脉冲持续时间与土壤理...     

Litter age interacted with N and P addition to impact soil N2O emissions in Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations

凋落物年龄和氮、磷添加交互作用对杉木林土壤N₂O排放的影响 氧化亚氮(N₂O)是一种重要的温室气体，增温潜势较大，其浓度增加影响全球气候变化。由于凋落物分解影响碳和养分循环，土壤N₂O排放受凋落物分解作用，而凋落物年龄和氮、磷添加影响凋落物分解，潜在影响土壤N₂O的排放。然而，凋落物年龄和养分添加对土壤N₂O排放的交互作用及其机制目前还没有报道，这限制了凋落物分解对N₂O排放的影响评价。本研究以杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)不同年龄凋落物为研究对象，通过氮、磷添加处理，研究了养分和凋落物年龄对N₂O排放的影响及其机制。研究结果显示，幼龄凋落物主要通过调节碳氮比来影响N₂O排放。氮添加主要通过调节凋落物碳氮比、土壤pH以及与N₂O产生相关的微生物功能基因所编码的土壤酶活性来影响N₂O排放，整体上促进N₂O排放。磷添加显著降低凋落物碳氮比，进而作用于N₂O排放，该途径促进N₂O排放。同时，磷添加提高土壤有效磷水平，潜在降低N₂O排放，整体上降低土壤N₂O排放。凋落物年龄和养分添加交互作用于土壤N₂O排放。因此，在森林经营管理中，评价不同管理措施，尤其是间伐和选择性砍伐等导致不同凋落物输入的管理活动对土壤N₂O排放的影响时，应同时考虑养分输入和凋落物年龄的潜在影响。     

凋落物和根系输入对南亚热带季风常绿阔叶林土壤养分的影响

植被凋落物和根系输入在调节森林土壤元素生物地球化学循环中扮演着关键作用。目前仍然不清楚凋落物和根系输入对热带原始林土壤主要元素含量的调控作用。针对该研究现状,以中国南亚热带季风常绿阔叶林为研究对象,通过开展凋落物与根系输入改变的控制试验（6个处理,每处理4次重复：对照、凋落物加倍、凋落物去除、断根、断根+凋落物加倍、断根+去除凋落物）,探讨了凋落物和断根处理对土壤可溶性离子、土壤酸中和能力（ANC）和阳离子交换量（CEC）的短期影响。凋落物与根系处理半年后的结果显示：（1）凋落物去除与加倍处理都显著增加了0-40 cm土壤NO₃^-含量,并且凋落物去除效应大于添加效应;去除凋落物增加了表层土壤（0-20 cm） Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、Na⁺的含量。（2）断根处理显著增加0-40 cm土壤NO₃^-和表层土壤Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺含量。（3）断根和去除凋落物交互处理显著增加了0-40 cm土壤NO₃^-和表层土壤Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、K⁺含量,产生了叠加效应。（4）凋落物和断根处理并没有改变土壤pH,但降低了土壤酸中和能力（除凋落物加倍外）,其降低的原因主要与阳离子交换量的降低和NO₃^-含量的增加有关。这些结果表明,土壤养分离子的可利用性（尤其是NO₃^-和Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺）和酸缓冲能力对凋落物和根系输入改变响应敏感,森林植物及其凋落物对土壤养分保留和缓冲性能具有重要调节作用。在人为干扰和气候变化加剧背景下,该研究可为森林生态系统可持续管理提供重要的理论参考。此外,植被凋落物和根系输入改变引起的长期生态学效应仍值得进一步关注。     

Plant roots fuel tropical soil animal communities

Belowground life relies on plant litter, while its linkage to living roots had long been understudied, and remains unknown in the tropics. Here, we analysed the response of 30 soil animal groups to root trenching and litter removal in rainforest and plantations in Sumatra, and found that roots are similarly important to soil fauna as litter. Trenching effects were stronger in soil than in litter, with an overall decrease in animal abundance in rainforest by 42% and in plantations by 30%. Litter removal little affected animals in soil, but decreased the total abundance by 60% in rainforest and rubber plantations but not in oil palm plantations. Litter and root effects on animal group abundances were explained by body size or vertical distribution. Our study quantifies principle carbon pathways in soil food webs under tropical land use, providing the basis for mechanistic modelling and ecosystem-friendly management of tropical soils.     

Plant litter effects on soil nutrient availability and vegetation dynamics: changes that occur when annual grasses invade shrub-steppe communities

Changes in the quantity and quality of plant litter occur in many ecosystems as they are invaded by exotic species, which impact soil nutrient cycling and plant community composition. Such changes in sagebrush-steppe communities are occurring with invasion of annual grasses (AG) into a perennial grass (PG) dominated system. We conducted a 5-year litter manipulation study located in the northern Great Basin, USA. Springtime litter was partially or completely removed in three communities with differing levels of invasion (invaded, mixed, and native) to determine how litter removal and litter biomass affected plant-available soil N and plant community composition. Litter biomass (prior to the removal treatment) was negatively correlated with plant-available N in the invaded community, but was positively correlated in the native community. Plant-available N had greater intra- and inter-annual fluctuations in the invaded compared to the mixed or native communities, but was not generally affected by removal treatments. Litter removal had negative effects on AG cover during a warm/dry year and negative effects on PG cover during a cool/wet year in the mixed community. Overall, the effectiveness of springtime litter manipulations on plant-available N were limited and weather dependent, and only removal treatments >75 % had effects on the plant community. Our study demonstrates how communities invaded by AGs have significantly increased temporal variability in nutrient cycling, which may decrease ecosystem stability. Further, we found that the ecological impacts from litter manipulation on sagebrush communities were dependent on the extent of AG invasion, the timing of removal, and seasonal precipitation.     

模拟雪被变化对水曲柳和兴安落叶松凋落叶分解的影响

气候变化引起的雪被变化会深刻地影响森林凋落物的分解过程.本研究采用人工控雪处理(对照、增雪、除雪)模拟研究雪被变化对两种温带树种——水曲柳和兴安落叶松凋落叶分解动态的影响. 为期一年的分解试验表明: 不同控雪处理下水曲柳和落叶松的凋落叶年分解率的变化范围分别为51.3%～57.4%和21.7%～31.4%;两者的分解系数(k)变化范围分别为0.048～0.057和0.022～0.030,其中增雪处理的k值最大、除雪处理的k值最小.与对照相比,增雪处理下水曲柳凋落叶50%和95%分解的时间分别缩短了1.1月和4.2月,落叶松则分别缩短了3.7月和15.5月;相反,除雪处理下相应的分解时间分别延长了1.8月和6.4月(水曲柳)及5.0月和21.1月(落叶松).此外,凋落叶分解率与树种、雪深、分解时间、土壤温度等密切相关,但其主要影响因子随分解阶段而异,表现为雪被期主要受土壤温度影响,而随后的无雪期主要受凋落叶初始质量的影响.本研究突显了雪被变化对凋落叶分解有显著的瞬时效应和延迟效应.     

凋落物分解过程中土壤微生物群落的变化

凋落物分解是生态系统碳循环和营养物质循环的关键过程, 受多种因素共同影响。土壤微生物是影响凋落物分解的重要因素, 其群落组成在一定程度上依赖于所处植物群落的特征。因此, 研究分解过程中微生物群落组成的变化及其对植物多样性的响应, 有利于对凋落物分解机制的理解。本文采用分解袋野外原位分解的方法, 对凋落物分解过程中微生物群落的变化及其对所处森林环境中树木的种类和遗传多样性的响应进行了研究。结果表明: (1)凋落物分解183天后, 土壤中微生物群落的多样性降低, 并且森林群落的物种多样性与微生物群落多样性呈负相关关系; (2)凋落物分解前后, 土壤中真菌和细菌群落的磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)量均有所增加, 说明凋落物分解为微生物生存和繁殖提供了养分; (3)地形因素是影响微生物群落变化最显著的因素, 可解释微生物群落变化的29.55%; 其次是凋落物的基质质量, 可以解释15.39%; 最后是森林群落的多样性, 可以解释8.45%; 这3种因素共同解释率为2.97%。综上所述, 与森林群落的植物多样性相比, 样地的地形因素与凋落物的基质质量对微生物群落的影响更显著。     

Driving Factors Behind Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Release at Temperate Forest Edges

Forest edges have become important features in landscapes worldwide. Edges are exposed to a different microclimate and higher atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition compared to forest interiors. It is, however, unclear how microclimate and elevated N deposition affect nutrient cycling at forest edges. We studied litter decomposition and release of N, phosphorus (P), total cations (TC) and C/N ratios during 18 months via the litterbag technique along edge-to-interior transects in two oak (Quercus robur L.) and two pine (Pinus nigra ssp. laricio Maire and ssp. nigra Arnold) stands in Belgium. Furthermore, the roles of edge conditions (microclimate, atmospheric deposition, soil fauna and soil physicochemical conditions), litter quality and edge decomposer community were investigated as underlying driving factors for litter decomposition. Litter of edge and interior was interchanged (focusing on the influence of edge conditions and litter quality) and placed in open-top chamber (OTC), which create an edge (warmer) microclimate. As the decomposer macrofauna was more abundant at the edge than in the interior, the OTCs were used to isolate the effects of warming versus soil fauna. Oak litter at the edge lost 87 and 37% more mass than litter in the interior. We demonstrated an edge effect on litter decomposition and nutrient release, caused by an interplay of edge conditions (atmospheric deposition of N and TC, soil pH and C/N ratio), litter quality and soil fauna. Consequently, edge effects must be accounted for when quantifying ecosystem processes, such as litter decomposition and nutrient cycling in fragmented landscapes.     

凋落物对土壤有机碳与微生物功能多样性的影响

森林凋落物是影响土壤微生物群落和有机碳含量的重要因素,但其作用的程度和机制尚不清楚,研究该问题对于分析森林生态系统碳循环和资源管理具有重要意义。研究凋落物去除与添加处理下土壤有机碳含量与土壤微生物对碳源利用的差异,明确凋落物去除与添加对土壤微生物群落代谢功能及其多样性的影响,探究不同处理下SOC含量变化的土壤微生物群落代谢机理。选取承德市雾灵山1405-1435 m海拔范围内核桃楸-蒙古栎混交林的表层土壤,采用室内培养结合Biolog-ECO方法,测定了培养第21天的土壤有机碳（soil organic carbon,SOC）含量及微生物群落的AWCD值、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson优势度指数、McIntosh均匀度指数、Pielou丰富度指数,分析培养期内凋落物的不同处理下SOC含量与微生物功能多样性的变化特征。结果表明：1）不同凋落物处理对SOC含量与土壤微生物群落多样性具有显著影响（P<0.05）,DL > HL > NL > CK;2）不同凋落物处理下土壤微生物群落代谢活性和土壤微生物对碳源的利用程度具有显著差异（P<0.05）,碳水化合物类和氨基酸类是土壤微生物的主要碳源;3）不同处理的SOC含量与土壤微生物多样性具有正相关关系。双倍凋落物添加在短期内对土壤微生物多样性影响难以达到显著水平且在一定程度上对土壤微生物的代谢活性具有抑制作用,土壤微生物群落功能多样性对SOC含量具有重要影响。     

Effects and mechanism of plant litter on grassland ecosystem: A review

Plant litter is dead, above and below ground; organic material i.e. leaves barks, needles, twigs and roots. Plant litter plays a key role in nutrient cycling and community organization in grassland ecosystems. Litter can have important consequences on recruitment of plant species through modification of biological, physical, and chemical features of microenvironment. Plant litter offers a major input of organic matter to the soil which modifies soil chemistry, hence impacts nutrient cycling. At early stages of litter decomposition, a particular amount of carbon is transporting to the soil nutrient pool. In terrestrial ecosystems, plant litter regulating biogeochemical cycles, maintain soil fertility, nutrient availability, and therefore influence plant growth, diversity, composition, structure, and productivity. Litter can also impact plant above net plant productivity and below net plant productivity in grassland ecosystem. Plant litter accumulation and decomposition can impact plant species composition and community structure through temperature, light and nutrient availability. The effects of plant litter on vegetation may be negative, positive or neutral due vegetation variability, study duration, habitat, latitude, quantity and quality of litter. These diverse effects of plant litter on grassland ecosystem might be due to, management practice type, management intensity, climate type, timing, precipitation and soil nutrient pool etc. Current review attempts to describe prominent effects of plant litter on vegetation, seed germination, soil fertility, Productivity, species composition, community structure and mechanism in grassland ecosystem.     

Long-term presence of tree species but not chemical diversity affect litter mixture effects on decomposition in a neotropical rainforest

Plant litter diversity effects on decomposition rates are frequently reported, but with a strong bias towards temperate ecosystems. Altered decomposition and nutrient recycling with changing litter diversity may be particularly important in tree species-rich tropical rainforests on nutrient-poor soils. Using 28 different mixtures of leaf litter from 16 Amazonian rainforest tree species, we tested the hypothesis that litter mixture effects on decomposition increase with increasing functional litter diversity. Litter mixtures and all single litter species were exposed in the field for 9 months using custom-made microcosms with soil fauna access. In order to test the hypothesis that the long-term presence of tree species contributing to the litter mixtures increases mixture effects on decomposition, microcosms were installed in a plantation at sites including the respective tree species composition and in a nearby natural forest where these tree species are absent. We found that mixture decomposition deviated from predictions based on single species, with predominantly synergistic effects. Functional litter diversity, defined as either richness, evenness, or divergence based on a wide range of chemical traits, did not explain the observed litter mixture effects. However, synergistic effects in litter mixtures increased with the long-term presence of tree species contributing to these mixtures as the home field advantage hypothesis assumes. Our data suggest that complementarity effects on mixed litter decomposition may emerge through long-term interactions between aboveground and belowground biota.     

贺兰山不同林分凋落物微生物群落特征与影响因素

贺兰山是我国重要生态屏障,贺兰山生态森林生态系统保护受到极大关注,森林凋落物及土壤微生物对全球气候变化研究具有重要意义。目前,贺兰山不同林分的凋落物分解过程中微生物群落结构特征差异、不同凋落物化学组成对微生物群落结构的影响尚不清楚。以贺兰山具有代表性的3种林分（油松林、青海云杉林以及油松-山杨混交林）凋落物为研究对象,开展凋落物化学组成、微生物群落组成及多样性特征研究,揭示不同林分凋落物的优势微生物群落特征和影响因子。结果表明,3种林分凋落物的细菌和真菌在多个多样性指数之间差异性均不显著,但是在多样性指数中真菌PD whole tree指数显著大于细菌,真菌Shannon指数与Ghao1指数却显著小于细菌。在门水平上不同林分凋落物的微生物优势菌类无显著差异,但在属水平上差异显著,而且细菌差异小于真菌,在各个分类水平上,凋落物细菌和真菌群落组成均表现为油松-山杨混交林＜青海云杉林＜青海云杉林,凋落物微生物多样性在青海云杉林中最为丰富。细菌不同节点间连接线负相关数量略大于正相关,真菌则相反。油松林凋落物与其它林分凋落物相比,微生物群落之间联系更加紧密。油松林凋落物OC含量最大、青海云杉林凋落物的TK含量最大、油松-山杨混交林的TN含量最大,且在3种林分中显著差异。相关性分析表明OC、TN、TP、TK是影响凋落物细菌和真菌群落组成及多样性的主要因素,冗余分析表明不同林分凋落物的微生物多样性指数受养分影响,凋落物OC、TN、TP、TK是影响微生物群落组成和多样性的重要因素,其中OC与微生物群落多样性相关性最显著,是影响凋落物细菌和真菌群落组成和多样性最主要的因子。