模拟氮沉降对华西雨屏区天然常绿阔叶林凋落叶分解过程中基质质量的影响

为理解氮沉降对华西雨屏区天然常绿阔叶林凋落物分解过程的影响,采用立地控制实验和凋落物分解袋法,研究了低氮沉降(L,50 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1))、中氮沉降(M,150 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1))和高氮沉降(H,300 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1))对华西雨屏区天然常绿阔叶林凋落叶分解过程中基质质量的影响。结果表明:N沉降抑制了凋落叶的分解,并随着N沉降量的增加,抑制作用增强。N沉降遏制了凋落叶的C、N释放和纤维素降解,促进了P释放。N沉降提高了凋落叶的C/P比,中氮和高氮处理提高了凋落叶C/N比。N沉降显著增加了凋落叶N、木质素和纤维素的含量,分解1年后,各N沉降处理的木质素/N和纤维素/N均显著高于对照。N沉降提高了质量残留率与C/N、木质素/N和纤维素/N的相关性,降低了与C/P的相关性。可见,模拟N沉降显著影响了华西雨屏区天然常绿阔叶林凋落叶分解过程中的基质质量,进而影响了凋落叶的分解过程。     

外源氮素调控C/N比对杉木林凋落叶细菌群落结构的影响

为探究不同C/N比对杉木凋落叶分解特性的影响,通过添加外源氮,采用分解袋法,分析林下植被保留和林下植被去除2种林分中不同C/N比值的杉木凋落叶分解300 d时细菌群落结构差异。研究显示：一定范围内,初始C/N比降低有利于杉木凋落叶分解和细菌群落多样性提升,过低的C/N比则具有抑制作用;相比于林下植被去除,林下植被保留管理措施更有利于杉木凋落叶的分解,且细菌群落多样性更高,但当初始C/N比值为20.3时,杉木凋落叶分解所受的抑制作用更为明显;在门水平上,变形菌门、放线菌门和浮霉菌门为杉木凋落叶中主要优势种群;在属水平上,慢生根瘤菌属、嗜酸栖热菌属和Singulisphaera属在杉木凋落叶中相对丰度较高;不同处理间的杉木凋落叶细菌群落结构具有显著差异,变形菌门、放线菌门和酸杆菌门等细菌门中的多类细菌相对丰度差异显著;在门分类水平上,杉木凋落叶C/N比值与主要细菌种群相对丰度的相关性最高,C/P比值与杉木凋落叶细菌群落结构变异的相关性最高;在属水平上,杉木凋落叶全碳含量、C/N比值和全钾含量与主要细菌种群相对丰度的相关性最高,全钾含量与杉木凋落叶细菌群落结构变异的相关性最高。结果表明初始C/N比的降低改变了杉木凋落叶细菌群落结构,进而作用于杉木凋落叶的分解。     

浙江天童常绿阔叶林、常绿针叶林与落叶阔叶林的C:N:P化学计量特征

以浙江天童常绿阔叶林、常绿针叶林和落叶阔叶林为对象,通过对叶片和凋落物C:N:P比率与N、P重吸收的研究,揭示3种植被类型N、P养分限制和N、P重吸收的内在联系。结果显示:1)叶片C:N:P在常绿阔叶林为758:18:1,在常绿针叶林为678:14:1,在落叶阔叶林为338:11:1;凋落物C:N:P在常绿阔叶林为777:13:1,常绿针叶林为691:14:1,落叶阔叶林为567:14:1;2)常绿阔叶林和常绿针叶林叶片与凋落物C:N均显著高于落叶阔叶林;叶片C:P在常绿阔叶林最高,常绿针叶林中等,落叶阔叶林最低,常绿阔叶林和常绿针叶林凋落物C:P显著高于落叶阔叶林;叶片N:P比也是常绿阔叶林最高、常绿针叶林次之,落叶阔叶林最低,但常绿阔叶林凋落物N:P最低;3)植被叶片N、P含量间(N为x,P为y)的II类线性回归斜率显著大于1(p0.05),表明叶片P含量的增加可显著提高叶片N含量;凋落物N、P含量的回归斜率约等于1,反映了凋落物中单位P含量与单位N含量间的等速损耗关系;4)常绿阔叶林N重吸收率显著高于常绿针叶林与落叶阔叶林,落叶阔叶林P重吸收率显著高于常绿阔叶林和常绿针叶林。虽然植被的N:P指示常绿阔叶林受P限制,落叶阔叶林受N限制,常绿针叶林受N、P的共同限制,但是N、P重吸收研究结果表明:受N素限制的常绿阔叶林具有高的N重吸收率,受P限制的落叶阔叶林并不具有高的P重吸收率。可见,较高的N、P养分转移率可能不是植物对N、P养分胁迫的一种重要适应机制,是物种固有的特征。     

岩溶区和非岩溶区两种优势植物凋落叶分解的比较研究

应用野外分解网袋法对岩溶地区和非岩溶地区两种优势树种桂花和青冈栎凋落叶的分解速率和养分释放规律进行研究。结果表明:分解1年后,凋落叶失重率桂花大于青冈栎,同一物种岩溶区大于非岩溶区。凋落叶各元素浓度随分解时间变化也有一定差异,C含量均表现为初期上升,后下降,最后上升的趋势;N含量前半年呈波动状态,后半年逐渐上升;P含量处波动状态,总体呈上升趋势。N、P含量和凋落叶失重率均表现为极显著正相关,而C:N、C:P、N:P与凋落叶失重率呈极显著负相关(P<0.01),说明凋落叶分解过程中失重率与N、P含量及C:N、C:P、N:P关系密切。凋落叶桂花N、P含量比青冈栎高,分解速率也比较快。     

茂兰喀斯特森林退化区凋落物的分解动态

为了解亚热带气候型的茂兰喀斯特森林退化区次生林和灌木林的凋落物分解动态过程,该研究采用分解袋法,对茂兰喀斯特森林退化区不同类型的凋落物在不同坡位的分解状况进行了为期18个月的观测,并通过分析凋落物分解时的失重量和失重率的动态变化,比较了次生林和灌木林的凋落叶的失重率变化,探讨了不同坡位对凋落物分解的影响。结果表明:各种类型凋落物的分解速率和失重率在退化区内存在明显的差异,落叶>常绿叶>枯枝(P<0.05),三种凋落物整体变化趋势在分解过程中大致相同,它们在早期都快速分解,中期分解变慢,后期开始加速;落叶在次生林与灌木林中的前期分解速率基本同步,后期为灌木林落叶>次生林落叶,而常绿叶在灌木林与次生林中的分解速率则表现为基本同步;利用回归方程对凋落叶分解50%和95%所需时间进行估测,得出落叶和常绿叶在灌木林中分解50%和95%所需时间少于次生林的;在不同坡位,三种凋落物分解速率的总体趋势为中坡>上坡;三种凋落物的C含量波动性较大,但总体变化趋势是随分解时间的增加而减少,随着分解时间增加,N含量增加,而C/N比则降低。     

中亚热带主要树种凋落叶在杉木人工林中分解及氮磷释放过程

采用分解网袋法研究了马尾松(Pinus massoniana)、桤木(Alnus cremastogyne)、木荷(Schima superba)、青冈(Cycloblanopsis glauca)等树种凋落叶在21年生杉木人工林内的分解速率和养分释放过程。经过13个月的分解实验,4种供试凋落叶以青冈分解最快,质量失重率为33.5%,其次为桤木和木荷,马尾松分解最慢,其质量失重率仅为29.9%。4种凋落叶分解50%和95%所需要的时间分别为21～26个月和94～112个月。在凋落叶分解过程中,除桤木凋落叶中氮含量下降外,其他3种凋落叶的氮含量均增加,但凋落叶的C/N均降低;在凋落叶分解的前3个月,凋落物中磷含量快速下降,此后变化很小,C/P呈增加趋势。在凋落叶分解过程中,马尾松凋落叶对氮素表现为固持作用,而其他3种凋落叶对氮素表现为净释放,4种凋落叶的磷素均表现为净释放。4种供试材料中桤木较适合与杉木混交种植。     

滇中常绿阔叶林凋落物养分释放及生态化学计量特征对模拟N沉降的响应

为研究N沉降下凋落物养分释放及生态化学计量特征,以滇中磨盘山常绿阔叶林为研究对象,利用尼龙网袋法布设凋落物(凋落叶、凋落枝)原位分解试验,设置不同施N处理:对照(CK,0 g N·m^-2·a^-1)、低氮(LN,5 g N·m^-2·a^-1)、中氮(MN,15 g N·m^-2·a^-1)和高氮(HN,30 g N·m^-2·a^-1)。结果表明: 模拟N沉降1年后,凋落叶、凋落枝和土壤的C、N含量均表现为随着N沉降量的增加而逐渐升高,增幅分别为0.3%～8.2%、4.9%～69.0%;C/N则表现为随着N沉降量的增加逐渐降低,降幅为0.8%～37.8%;凋落枝P含量、C/P、N/P在各处理下差异均不显著。处理时间与施N水平均显著影响凋落叶、凋落枝及土壤的N、P含量及C/N、C/P、N/P;1年分解过程中,凋落物C、N、P残留率依次呈释放、淋溶-富集-释放、淋溶-富集的模式,外源N显著抑制了凋落物C、N、P释放过程;土壤C、P含量与凋落物N、P含量呈显著正相关,土壤N含量与凋落物C、N含量呈显著正相关。N沉降下常绿阔叶林凋落物与土壤生态化学计量具有显著相关性,研究滇中常绿阔叶林凋落物分解和生态化学计量特征有助于了解森林生态系统凋落物分解过程对N沉降的响应机理。     

华北落叶松与阔叶树种混合凋落叶分解过程中养分释放和酶活性变化

森林凋落物是森林土壤的重要组成部分,凋落物分解在调控森林生态系统养分循环中发挥了关键作用。采用凋落物分解袋法,研究河北塞罕坝地区华北落叶松与白桦,华北落叶松与蒙古栎,华北落叶松、白桦和蒙古栎混合凋落叶及纯华北落叶松凋落叶分解过程中分解速率、养分释放和酶活性的变化。结果表明: 经过近2年的分解,混合凋落叶分解速率均显著高于纯华北落叶松凋落物叶;在所有处理中,华北落叶松与白桦混合凋落叶分解速率最高。在凋落叶分解过程中,不同处理养分含量变化一致,凋落叶N、P含量呈上升趋势,C、K含量和C/N呈下降趋势;相对纯华北落叶松凋落叶,各混合凋落叶分解可以促进凋落叶C、K的释放,但对N、P的释放有一定的抑制作用。在凋落叶分解过程中,不同处理凋落叶过氧化氢酶、脲酶、酸性磷酸酶活性呈上升趋势,蔗糖酶活性呈下降趋势;凋落叶分解速率与凋落叶过氧化氢酶、脲酶、酸性磷酸酶活性呈正相关,与蔗糖酶活性呈负相关。总体来看,华北落叶松和白桦、蒙古栎凋落叶混合可以促进华北落叶松凋落叶的分解,且凋落叶中酶活性动态变化与凋落叶的分解密切相关。     

美国南卡罗来纳州森林湿地十种典型植物凋落叶的分解特征

凋落叶分解是控制森林湿地物质循环的重要生态过程,是全球C、N等元素循环的重要一部分。以美国南卡罗来纳州10种典型植物的凋落叶为研究对象,通过2a的分解实验测定分解阶段凋落叶的生物量残留率、分解速率常数k和C、N残留百分比,探讨初始凋落叶化学性质对分解速率常数k的影响。结果表明:(1)十种凋落叶生物量在两年内降解至初始的14.5%—66.2%,种间差异可达4倍以上;分解速率常数k在0.26—1.64a~(-1)之间,针叶分解速率阔叶分解速率;(2)分解速率常数k与初始凋落叶酸溶性组分(AS)极显著正相关(P0.001),与初始C含量、酸不溶组分(AIF)和AIF/N比均显著负相关(P0.05);(3)凋落叶C残留百分比持续下降至10.2%—66.1%,而N残留百分比因物种与分解阶段不同呈现不同变化规律。结果表明,森林湿地中凋落叶初始C组分差异是其分解速率的种间极大差异的主要原因,评估森林湿地的C、N循环应充分考虑种间差异。     

黄土丘陵区人工林刺槐和油松凋落叶在不同降雨时期的分解特征

凋落物分解是维持生态系统养分循环和能量流动的关键过程,但在雨热同期的黄土丘陵区,不同降雨时期凋落物基质质量动态对该区不同树种凋落物分解速率的影响还不清楚。采用凋落物分解袋法,基于野外原位分解实验分析黄土丘陵区主要人工林刺槐（Robinia pseudoacacia Linn.）和油松（Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.）凋落叶在不同降雨时期的分解特征和分解过程中凋落叶基质质量的变化与分解速率之间的关系。研究结果发现：（1）经过391 d的分解,刺槐凋落叶的平均质量损失速率为（51.0±8.44）mg/d,显著地高于油松凋落叶（36.7±4.83）mg/d;雨季期间两树种凋落叶的质量损失速率均显著地高于旱季,其中夏季多雨期间凋落叶的质量损失速率最高,冬季微量降雨期间质量损失速率最低。（2）在整个分解过程中两树种凋落叶C和N含量都表现为净释放且主要发生在雨季,P含量表现为释放与富集交替进行;刺槐凋落叶C/N比、C/P比和N/P比呈波动的趋势,油松凋落叶C/N比则显著地增加且在夏季多雨期出现峰值,C/P比呈波动的状态,N/P比变化较小。（3）不同降雨时期刺槐凋落叶的质量损失速率与凋落叶P含量动态显著正相关,与C含量、C/P比和N/P比动态显著负相关。油松凋落叶质量损失速率与C/N比动态显著正相关,与C、N含量动态显著负相关,与N/P比动态呈负二次函数的关系。这些结果说明黄土丘陵区刺槐和油松凋落叶在不同降雨时期分解速率之间的差异显著且两树种凋落叶的分解都集中在雨季期间;此外凋落叶分解主要受到凋落叶N含量和N/P比动态变化的制约,与刺槐凋落叶相比,N含量与N/P比对油松凋落叶的限制作用更强。     

Tree Species Effect on Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Release in Mediterranean Oak Forests Changes Over Time

Tree species can affect the decomposition process through the quality of their leaf fall and through the species-specific conditions that they generate in their environment. We compared the relative importance of these effects in a 2-year experiment. Litterbags containing leaf litter of the winter-deciduous Quercus canariensis, the evergreen Q. suber and mixed litter were incubated beneath distinct plant covers. We measured litter carbon loss, 9 macro- and micronutrients and 18 soil chemical, physical and biological parameters of the incubation environment. Tree species affected decay dynamics through their litter quality and, to a lesser extent, through the induced environmental conditions. The deciduous litter showed a faster initial decomposition but left a larger fraction of slow decomposable biomass compared with the perennial litter; in contrast the deciduous environment impeded early decomposition while promoting further carbon loss in the latter decay stages. The interaction of these effects led to a negative litter–environment interaction contradicting the home-field advantage hypothesis. Leaf litter N, Ca and Mn as well as soil N, P and soil moisture were the best predictors for decomposition rates. Litter N and Ca exerted counteractive effects in early versus late decay stages; Mn was the best predictor for the decomposition limit value, that is, the fraction of slowly decomposable biomass at the later stage of decomposition; P and soil moisture showed a constant and positive relation with carbon loss. The deciduous oak litter had a higher initial nutrient content and released its nutrients faster and in a higher proportion than the perennial oak litter, significantly increasing soil fertility beneath its canopy. Our findings provide further insights into the factors that control the early and late stages of the decomposition process and reveal potential mechanisms underlying tree species influence on litter decay rate, carbon accumulation and nutrient cycling.     

Comparison of Leaf Litter Decomposition Rates in Restored and Mature Riparian Forests on the Sacramento River, California

One of the largest riparian restoration projects in the United States is currently taking place in California on the Sacramento River. Nearly 2,000 ha of land adjacent to the river channel have been revegetated with native riparian species in an effort to reestablish riparian forests. The objective of this study was to compare leaf litter decomposition rates in restored riparian forests to those in mature, naturally established riparian forests, in order to monitor the development of this ecosystem function in restored forests. Leaf litter decomposition rates were measured over 1 year in six restored riparian forests (4, 7, and 9 years old) and two mature remnant riparian forests (>50 years old), in order to test two hypotheses: (1) decomposition rates of restored and mature forests are significantly different and (2) decomposition rates in the chronosequence of restored forests are moving along a trajectory, approaching the decomposition rates characteristic of mature forests as they age. Statistical analyses revealed no significant differences in annual decay rates among the four different forest ages and no trajectory among leaf litter decomposition rates in restored forests. These results suggest that a functionally equivalent process of leaf litter decomposition occurs in both restored and naturally established forests and show promise for the efficiency of nutrient cycling processes in these restored forests.     

高寒森林不同生境凋落叶分解过程中水溶性组分动态特征

凋落叶分解所产生的水溶性组分(water soluble matter)是森林水陆不同生境碳和养分迁移的重要载体。本研究通过布设高寒森林4种代表物种凋落叶分解袋,即康定柳(Salix paraplesia)、高山杜鹃(Rhododendron lapponicum)、方枝柏(Sabina saltuaria)和四川红杉(Larix mastersiana),探讨其在林下地表、溪流和河岸带3种生境下不同分解时期(冻结初期、冻结期、融化期、生长季节、生长季节后期)的水溶性组分及水溶性碳含量动态及其影响因素。结果表明:经两年的分解,发现溪流显著促进了凋落叶中水溶性组分和水溶性碳的释放;同一物种凋落叶在不同生境下水溶性组分和水溶性碳损失差异显著(P<0.05),整体表现为溪流>河岸带>林下;在分解初期水溶性组分含量有明显的降低;在整个分解过程中,水溶性组分(-70.43%)和水溶性碳(-84.31%)含量变化基本一致且呈明显降低趋势。此外,凋落叶中水溶性组分和水溶性碳的释放速率受时间、物种以及区域环境因子(温度、p H值、营养成分)的调控。这些结果表明,高寒森林凋落叶中水溶性组分和水溶性碳在分解过程中易随水体的流动而转移至下游生态系统,并且区域环境因子在凋落叶水溶性组分和水溶性碳释放过程中具有重要的作用,这为深入理解高寒森林以凋落物为载体的物质迁移过程提供了科学依据。     

辽东栎叶片凋落物在不同气候带下的分解及其主要元素释放的比较

应用分解网袋法对辽东栎（Quercus liaotungensis Koize)叶片凋落物分别在暖温带的东灵山,亚热带的神农架,热带的西双版纳为期1-2年的分解和K,Ca,Mg,Fe,P,Cu,Mn等营养元素释放动态进行比较研究。三个气候带下辽东栎叶片凋落物质量损失基本符合Olson的指数模型。但降解速率有很大的差别。气候条件对凋落物的分解和营养元素的释放影响很大,降水量增多,年均温增高,凋落物分解速率相应加快,研究还发现影响营养元素释放的因素除公认的土壤生物（土壤动物和土壤微生物）作用外。对于Fe,Mn等元素遵循的是“化学因素主导”模式。特征在于由于化学螯合作用。其释放过程和凋落物本身失重呈显著负相关。另外,对不同因素占主导的各种分解模式进行了归纳总结。     

Leaf litter decomposition of 12 tree species in a subtropical forest in Japan

The leaf litter decomposition of 12 tree species was examined for three years in a subtropical forest in Japan to follow the pattern of changes in organic chemical constituents and nitrogen (N) and the relationship between these components. The remaining mass of the leaf litter reached 7–53% of the original mass at the end of the field incubation, and the decomposition constants (k) ranged from 0.37 to 2.39 year^?1. The decomposition constant was significantly negatively correlated with the initial content of acid-unhydrolyzable residue (AUR) for all 12 tree species. A net increase of AUR that lasted for the first 3 to 6 months was noted for leaf litter of four tree species. The absolute amount of total N increased initially and then decreased thereafter in leaf litter of five tree species, whereas total N mass decreased throughout the study period in leaf litter of the other species. Contents of AUR and total N in leaf litter generally increased linearly with the accumulated mass loss of litter during decomposition, resulting in positive slopes of linear regressions. Lignocellulose index and AUR to N ratio of the litter showed convergent trends for 12 tree species as the decomposition progressed. When compared with datasets for an Asian climatic gradient, the decomposition rates in the subtropical forest was intermediate between the rates in tropical and temperate forests, and AUR and N contents in decomposing litter were consistently lower than those in temperate forests, indicating faster loss of AUR and N.     

桂西北喀斯特区原生林与次生林凋落叶降解和养分释放

凋落叶降解及养分释放研究对喀斯特生态脆弱区森林生态系统的恢复与重建具有重要指导意义。本文选取桂西北喀斯特区3种原生林与3种次生林进行比较,研究其凋落叶降解与降解过程中的营养元素释放规律以及降解速率的影响因子。结果表明,原生林凋落叶的降解速率略大于次生林。C、N、K元素在前180天释放速率较快,随后趋于稳定。次生林凋落叶总P含量在降解初始阶段呈净积累,随后净释放,而原生林的凋落叶在降解360天后仍呈现P素净积累。相关分析表明,凋落叶降解速率与凋落叶初始总N、木质素含量及木质素:N比值呈负相关,与C:N比呈正相关。综合比较发现,次生林圆叶乌桕(Sapium rotundifolium Hemsl)凋落叶的降解速率与养分释放速率较快,是喀斯特退化土地及植被恢复过程中潜在的优势种和建群种。     

Rapid nutrient cycling in leaf litter from invasive plants in Hawai’i

Physiological traits that contribute to the establishment and spread of invasive plant species could also have impacts on ecosystem processes. The traits prevalent in many invasive plants, such as high specific leaf areas, rapid growth rates, and elevated leaf nutrient concentrations, improve litter quality and should increase rates of decomposition and nutrient cycling. To test for these ecosystem impacts, we measured initial leaf litter properties, decomposition rates, and nutrient dynamics in 11 understory plants from the Hawaiian islands in control and nitrogen + phosphorus fertilized plots. These included five common native species, four of which were ferns, and six aggressive invasive species, including five angiosperms and one fern. We found a 50-fold variation in leaf litter decay rates, with natives decaying at rates of 0.2–2.3 year^–1 and invaders at 1.4–9.3 year^–1. This difference was driven by very low decomposition rates in native fern litter. Fertilization significantly increased the decay rates of leaf litter from two native and two invasive species. Most invasive litter types lost nitrogen and phosphorus more rapidly and in larger quantities than comparable native litter types. All litter types except three native ferns lost nitrogen after 100 days of decomposition, and all litter types except the most recalcitrant native ferns lost >50% of initial phosphorus by the end of the experiment (204–735 days). If invasive understory plants displace native species, nutrient cycling rates could increase dramatically due to rapid decomposition and nutrient release from invasive litter. Such changes are likely to cause a positive feedback to invasion in Hawaii because many invasive plants thrive on nutrient-rich soils.     

Leaf litter decomposition in a southern Sonoran Desert ecosystem, northwestern Mexico: Effects of habitat and litter quality

Leaf litter decomposition of dominant woody perennial species in the three most common habitats of the southern Sonoran Desert was studied using the litter-bag method. Our objective was to assess the influence of litter quality on decomposition rates in three contrasting desert environments. The hypotheses were: (1) decomposition rates within the same litter type are faster in more mesic habitats, (2) decomposition rates are lower in higher lignin content or lower nutrient quality substrates, and (3) species-rich substrates enhance decomposition rates. For all litter types and habitats, a rapid loss of mass occurred during the summer rains at the start of the experiment, but total loss within the same litter type differed significantly among habitats. Decay rates were not higher in the more mesic habitat, but in the dry plains where solar irradiance and termite activity were highest. While termite activity was less important in the arroyos and absent in the hillsides habitats, proliferation of fungal mycelium in these sites was much higher than in the plains, suggesting that biotic and abiotic factors act both independently of litter richness. Lignin content seems to be an important factor controlling the loss of litter, because decay rates were inversely related to litter initial lignin content in all three habitats. Leaf litter diversity did not enhance rates of decomposition. The leaf litter mixture had k-values similar to the most recalcitrant monospecific litter in all three habitats, indicating a neutral or even antagonistic role of species-specific compounds in decomposition rates.     

Asymbiotic Nitrogen Fixation and Litter Decomposition on a Long Soil-Age Gradient in Hawaiian Montane Rain Forest1

We determined rates of decomposition and asymbiotic nitrogen fixation in the leaf litter of Cheirodendron spp. on the Hawaiian Islands. Leaf litter was collected from four sites on a long soil-age gradient (300 yr to 4.1 M yr) and decomposed at two sites that differed widely in substrate age and nutrient availability. Rates of decomposition were higher in litter decomposed at the older site, where nutrient availability was greater. A substantial amount of nitrogen and phosphorus immobilization occurred in litter decomposed at the older site, with more immobilization occurring in litter with lower initial nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, suggesting both supply and demand controls on nutrient immobilization. Potential rates of nitrogen fixation were very low in the first 25 d (0–5 nmol acetylene/gdw/h), rose to much higher rates by 70 d (20–45 nmol), and then declined by 140 d. We found no significant difference in rates of potential nitrogen fixation between sites of decomposition, but there was a strong substrate effect, with higher rates in litter with low lignin, low nitrogen, and high phosphorus. Where significant immobilization of nitrogen occurred for decomposing Cheirodendron, nitrogen fixation could have comprised no more than 10 percent of immobilized nitrogen. Overall, rates of nitrogen fixation were dependent on the source of the decomposing substrate but not on the site of decomposition, while short-term decomposition and nutrient immobilization were strongly dependent on the site of decomposition but not as much on the source of the decomposing substrate.     

Controls on long-term root and leaf litter decomposition in neotropical forests

Litter decomposition represents one of the largest annual fluxes of carbon (C) from terrestrial ecosystems, particularly for tropical forests, which are generally characterized by high net primary productivity and litter turnover. We used data from the Long-Term Intersite Decomposition Experiment (LIDET) to (1) determine the relative importance of climate and litter quality as predictors of decomposition rates, (2) compare patterns in root and leaf litter decomposition, (3) identify controls on net nitrogen (N) release during decay, and (4) compare LIDET rates with native species studies across five bioclimatically diverse neotropical forests. Leaf and root litter decomposed fastest in the lower montane rain and moist forests and slowest in the seasonally dry forest. The single best predictor of leaf litter decomposition was the climate decomposition index (CDI), explaining 51% of the variability across all sites. The strongest models for predicting leaf decomposition combined climate and litter chemistry, and included CDI and lignin ( R ²=0.69), or CDI, N and nonpolar extractives ( R ²=0.69). While we found no significant differences in decomposition rates between leaf and root litter, drivers of decomposition differed for the two tissue types. Initial stages of decomposition, determined as the time to 50% mass remaining, were driven primarily by precipitation for leaf litter ( R ²=0.93) and by temperature for root litter ( R ²=0.86). The rate of N release from leaf litter was positively correlated with initial N concentrations; net N immobilization increased with decreasing initial N concentrations. This study demonstrates that decomposition is sensitive to climate within and across tropical forests. Our results suggest that climate change and increasing N deposition in tropical forests are likely to result in significant changes to decomposition rates in this biome.