热带季节雨林凋落叶分解过程中的中小型土壤节肢动物的群落结构及动态

2000年5月-2001年4月,采用尼龙网袋法,以西双版纳热带季节雨林混合凋落叶作为分解基质,在3个季节雨林样地开展分解实验,对实验过程中分解袋内的中小型土壤节肢动物(meso—microarthropod)进行取样调查。根据所获数据探讨了中小型土壤节肢动物群落在分解过程中的结构和动态。结果显示：(1)在季节雨林凋落叶分解过程中,中小型土壤节肢动物群落组成始终以弹尾目和蜱螨目相对数量较高(均在30％以上),成为优势类群。(2)分解中期,土壤节肢动物群落多样性指数,类群、个体及重要类群的数量均处于整个分解过程中的较高水平,分解初期和后期相对较低,且波动性大,其中分解初期各多样性指标在波动过程中呈逐步增长趋势,而后期逐步降低,其变化过程受凋落叶数量和质量、林地降雨量变化的影响。土壤动物群落类群和个体相对密度(每克凋落叶干重的类群数和个体数)的变化可在一定程度上反映土壤动物与凋落物质量的动态关系。(3)不同样地间,土壤节肢动物群落结构及动态差异在分解前期不明显,而分解后期差异有所增加,但3样地凋落叶分解物质损失率没有明显差异。     

川西亚高山森林凋落物分解初期土壤动物对红桦凋落叶质量损失的贡献

2010年10月26日-2011年4月18日在川西亚高山地区季节性冻融期间,选择典型的红桦-岷江冷杉林,采用凋落物分解袋法调查了不同网孔(0.02、0.125、1和3 mm)凋落物分解袋内的凋落物质量损失,分析微型、中型和大型土壤动物对红桦凋落叶分解的贡献.结果表明:在季节性冻融期间,0.02、0.125、1和3 mm分解袋内的红桦凋落叶质量损失率分别为11.8％、13.2％、15.4％和19.5％,不同体径土壤动物对红桦凋落叶质量损失的贡献率为39.5％;不同孔径凋落物袋内土壤动物的类群和个体相对密度与凋落叶的质量损失率的变化趋势相对一致.在季节性冻融的初期、深冻期和融化期,不同土壤动物对红桦凋落叶质量损失的贡献率为大型土壤动物(22.7％)＞中型土壤动物(11.9％)＞微型土壤动物(7.9％).季节性冻融期间土壤动物活动是影响川西亚高山森林凋落物分解的重要因素之一.     

长白山牛皮杜鹃凋落物分解及土壤动物的作用

凋落物分解是生态系统养分循环的重要环节。土壤动物对凋落物分解具有重要作用。有关高山常绿小灌木凋落物分解及土壤动物作用的研究鲜有报道。采用凋落物网袋法对长白山北坡岳桦林带(42°03'41.23″N,128°03'12.75″E,1900 m)牛皮杜鹃(Rhododendron chrysanthum)凋落物的分解过程进行了为期1a的野外观测与室内试验研究,采用4、2 mm和0.01 mm三种网孔凋落物袋来控制不同体型的土壤动物的参与,以研究凋落物的分解率、养分动态及土壤动物在凋落物分解中的作用。结果表明,4、2 mm和0.01 mm网孔凋落物分解率分别为34.19%、31.22%和25.45%。分解率表现出显著的季节差异性。从总体上来看,网袋内凋落物的总氮含量先增后减;C/N呈下降趋势。对分解起主要作用的优势类群是甲螨亚目和等节跳科。土壤动物总个体数与养分元素的释放关系显著,中小型土壤动物对有机碳的释放起到重要作用。截至2012年10月末试验结束,全部土壤动物对牛皮杜鹃凋落物分解质量损失的贡献率为25.57%,中小型土壤动物贡献率(16.88%)大型土壤动物贡献率(8.69%)。大型土壤动物和中小型土壤动物在牛皮杜鹃凋落物分解过程中所起的作用,具有不同步性。     

四川盆地亚热带常绿阔叶林不同物候期凋落物分解与土壤动物群落结构的关系

为了解植物生长不同物候时期凋落物分解过程中土壤动物群落结构动态及其与凋落物分解的关系,以四川盆地亚热带常绿阔叶林典型人工林树种马尾松和柳杉,次生林树种香樟和麻栎凋落物为研究对象,采用凋落物分解袋试验研究,凋落物分解过程中土壤动物的群落特征。4种凋落物分解袋共获得土壤动物8047只,其中,柳杉(2341只)>香樟(2105只)>马尾松(2046只)>麻栎(1555只)。其中,秋末落叶期、萌动期和展叶期,马尾松凋落物袋中主要以捕食性土壤动物为优势类群,而后以菌食性土壤动物为主;香樟凋落物袋中除秋末落叶期和叶衰期以菌食性土壤动物为主要优势类群外,其他各时期均以捕食性土壤动物为主要优势类群;柳杉凋落物分解各时期均以菌食性土壤动物为主要优势类群;麻栎凋落物分解在前3个时期以菌食性为主,而后以植食性土壤动物为主要优势类群。相关分析表明,在秋末落叶期和萌动期土壤动物的个体密度主要和氮、磷含量及其格局密切相关,叶衰期主要和难分解组分木质素显著相关。除在秋末落叶期土壤动物对凋落物分解的贡献率与土壤动物的个体密度显著相关外,其余主要物候关键时期均与土壤动物的类群密度及其食性显著相关。     

桉-桤不同混合比例凋落物分解过程中 土壤动物群落动态

采用凋落物分解袋法研究了10:0(TⅠ)、7:3(TⅡ)5:5(TⅢ)、3:7(TⅣ)和0:10(TV)巨桉(Eucalyptus grandis)和台湾桤木(Alnus formosana)混合凋落物分解过程中的土壤动物群落特征.从5种类型、3种规格的810只凋落袋中共收集土壤动物75651只,隶属2门10纲20目,其中弹尾目(Collembola)和蜱螨目(Acarina)为优势类群.土壤动物个体数最高是7-8月,大型土壤动物个体数最高是7月,中小型土壤动物个体数最高是7-8月.大型、中小型土壤动物类群数各月间均波动较小.与30目和6目相比,260目网袋中弹尾目和蜱螨目等中小型土壤动物数量更高.相对台湾桤木(TV)而言,巨桉(TⅠ)凋落物中弹尾目数量更多.啮虫目(Psocoptera)在台湾桤木(TV)凋落物中的数量远远高于其它凋落物,后孔寡毛目(Opisthopora)在混合凋落物中数量较高.不同比例的凋落物混合可改变凋落物中土壤动物的数量和组成.桤木、混合凋落物中大型土壤动物的个体数高于巨桉凋落物,而且上述凋落物的分解速率亦明显快于巨桉凋落物,这意味着大型土壤动物的活动可加速凋落物的分解.因此,在巨桉人工纯林中混栽台湾桤木,可显著提高大型土壤动物的数量,促进凋落物的分解.     

土壤线虫群落对森林凋落物分解主场效应的作用

以大连西郊国家森林公园作为样地,以黑松和辽东栎两种叶凋落物作为分解基质,采用两种不同网孔的凋落物袋法,从土壤线虫群落组成、凋落物分解速率、凋落物养分释放、土壤线虫群落多样性及其与凋落物理化指标的相关性等几个方面来探究森林凋落物分解的主场效应及土壤线虫群落的作用。结果表明:研究期间共鉴定出4570条土壤线虫,隶属于35个属。0.1mm网袋中共鉴定4407条线虫,远高于0.02mm网袋的163条;而0.02mm网袋控制了土壤线虫参与凋落物分解,可视为仅由微生物参与分解过程。凋落物在主场与客场分解损失率差值(Ph-Pa、Qh-Qa)、元素残留率差值(Pa-Ph、Qa-Qh)总体呈增加趋势,说明土壤线虫对主场凋落物分解作用明显。凋落物质量损失和C、N释放量表现为0.1mm网袋0.02mm网袋,主场客场,主场与客场存在一定差异,表明土壤线虫促进了凋落物分解,且对主场凋落物分解贡献较大。主场线虫数量和种类较多,调控着微生物的群落结构及活动,进而加速了凋落物分解和养分释放,同时主场效应又决定着凋落物的分解速率和养分释放。研究结果可为今后森林凋落物分解的相关研究中主场效应、客场效应以及土壤生物驱动效应研究提供参考。     

森林土壤动物对凋落物早期分解及养分释放的影响

采用野外缩微实验方法,研究了会同林区常绿阔叶林和杉木人工林土壤动物对凋落物早期分解的影响。结果表明:孔径为2mm的网筒内试验土壤和凋落物中大型土壤动物的类群数和多度均明显少于孔径为4mm的网筒;排除大型土壤动物后,常绿阔叶林中凋落物C、K、Ca、Mg养分浓度显著增加,杉木林中凋落物Mg浓度显著增加,2个样地中的凋落物失重率以及凋落物C、P、Ca、Mg等养分元素的释放率均极显著降低(P0.01);大型土壤动物对不同元素释放率的影响不同,2个样地中对凋落物Ca、Mg元素释放率的影响均较大,杉木人工林中对N和K释放率的影响较小,常绿阔叶林中对P释放率的影响最小。     

鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林凋落叶分解与土壤动物群落动态和多样性

2001年12月~2002年12月,采用不同孔径分解凋落叶样袋法,对鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林3类凋落叶的分解进行了研究,并对落叶分解过程中凋落叶袋内和袋下土样中的土壤动物群落和多样性进行了调查。结果表明,3种孔径袋内凋落叶的分解速率为大孔>中孔>微孔;混合凋落叶的分解速率大于单种凋落叶;蜱螨目在凋落叶分解的整个过程中相对数量都较高,弹尾目在凋落叶的分解过程中在凋落叶袋和土壤间移动,数量变化较大。凋落叶袋内大、中型土壤动物的个体数量在分解前期较多,中、小型土壤动物在分解的中期数量剧增;凋落叶袋内土壤动物的个体数量、密度以及多样性指数都随着落叶的分解而增加,9月最高;土壤样内则在分解的前期较高,以后逐渐降低。凋落叶的分解和土壤动物群落动态及多样性受凋落叶基质质量以及样地温度、降雨量等综合因素的影响。     

西沙永兴岛抗风桐与海岸桐群落凋落叶分解及中型土壤动物的贡献

我国南海诸岛主要是珊瑚岛。植物凋落物分解是生态系统元素循环的关键环节,但目前关于南海珊瑚岛生态系统凋落物分解的研究还是空白。以我国西沙群岛的优势树种抗风桐（Pisonia grandis）和海岸桐（Guettarda speciosa）为研究对象,采用凋落物袋法,分别于分解期间的第3、6、9、13和15个月取样,探究中型土壤动物对两种植物群落中凋落物分解过程中质量损失和养分释放的影响。结果表明：与没有中型土壤动物存在的情况（0.1 mm凋落物袋）相比,分解开始后的6个月内,中型土壤动物存在（2 mm凋落物袋）使抗风桐和海岸桐凋落叶分解速率分别提高了12.3%和4.8%（P<0.05）;分解6-15个月期间,中型土壤动物存在使抗风桐和海岸桐凋落叶分解速率分别提高了33.0%和12.3%（P<0.05）。中型土壤动物排除显著影响了不同分解阶段凋落叶总碳（Total carbon,TC）、总氮（Total nitrogen,TN）、纤维素、木质素和半纤维素的残留率变化。中型土壤动物群落组成受土壤温度显著影响（P<0.05）,它们对凋落叶分解的贡献可能主要受优势类群如真螨目和寄螨目的影响。相较海岸桐,抗风桐凋落叶的分解周期更短,中型土壤动物对其的贡献更大;选用抗风桐作为南海珊瑚岛退化植被恢复或新建的先锋种对促进生态系统元素循环更有利。     

季节性冻融期间土壤动物对岷江冷杉凋落叶质量损失的贡献

冬季凋落物的质量损失是中高纬度和高海拔地区凋落物分解的关键, 但冬季凋落物分解是否与土壤动物的贡献有关, 不同冻融时期(冻融初期、深冻期和融化期)的土壤动物对凋落物分解的贡献是否存在差异? 对这两个问题仍缺乏必要的关注。为了解季节性冻融期间土壤动物对岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)凋落物分解的贡献, 采用凋落物分解袋法, 调查了季节性冻融期间(2010年10月底至2011年4月中旬), 不同网孔(0.020 mm、0.125 mm、1.000 mm和3.000 mm)凋落物分解袋内的岷江冷杉凋落叶质量损失, 分析了微型、中型和大型土壤动物对岷江冷杉凋落叶分解的贡献。在季节性冻融期间, 0.020 mm、0.125 mm、1.000 mm和3.000 mm分解袋内的岷江冷杉凋落叶质量损失率分别为12.13%、13.07%、14.95%和18.74%。不同体径的土壤动物对季节性冻融期间岷江冷杉凋落叶质量损失的贡献率总共为35.28%; 不同孔径凋落物袋内土壤动物的类群和个体相对密度与凋落叶的质量损失率呈现相对一致的变化趋势。在季节性冻融的3个阶段中, 土壤动物对岷江冷杉凋落叶质量损失的贡献率均为: 微型土壤动物<中型土壤动物<大型土壤动物。其中, 微型、中型和大型土壤动物分别在深冻期、冻融初期和融化期表现出最高的贡献率, 分别为6.56%、11.77%和21.94%。然而相对于其他冻融时期, 深冻期中型和大型土壤动物对岷江冷杉凋落叶质量损失的贡献率最低。这些结果清晰地表明了川西高山季节性冻融期间土壤动物调控着凋落物分解的生态过程, 是高山冬季凋落物分解的重要因素之一。     

福建和溪亚热带雨林落叶的分解动态

福建和溪亚热带雨林落叶的分解动态邵成,郑文教,林鹏（厦门大学,厦门３６１００５）ＤｙｎａｍｉｃｓｏｆｌｉｔｔｅｒｄｅｃｏｍｐｏｓｉｔｉｏｎｉｎＨｅｘｉｓｕｂｔｒｏｐｉｃａｌｒａｉｎｆｏｒｅｓｔｏｆＦｕｊｉａｎ￥ＳｈａｏＣｈｅｎｇ;ＺｈｅｎｇＷｅｎｊｉ...     

Impact of soil mesofauna on the decomposition of two main species litters in a Pinus koraiensis mixed broad-leaved forest of the Changbai Mountains

In most terrestrial ecosystems, the majority of aboveground net primary productivity enters the decomposition system as plant litter. The decomposition of plant litter plays a critical role in regulating build up of the forest soil organic matter, releasing of nutrients for plant growth, and influencing the carbon cycling. Soil fauna are considered to be an important factor in the acceleration litter decomposition and nutrient transformations. Mechanisms of soil faunal contribution to litter decomposition include digestion of substrates, increase of surface area through fragmentation and acceleration of microbial inoculation into litter. The Pinus koraiensis mixed broad-leaved forest is one of the typical forest vegetation types in Changbai Mountain. Previously, major studies carried here were focused on climate, soil and vegetation; however, on litter decomposition and the role of soil fauna in this forest ecosystem were limited. In this paper, we conducted a litter decomposition experiment using litterbag method to explore the contribution of soil fauna on litter decomposition and provide a scientific basis for maintaining a balanced in P. koraiensis mixed broad-leaved forest in Changbai Mountains. During 2009 and 2010, we used litterbags with different mesh sizes to examine the decomposition of two dominant tree species (P. koraiensis, Fraxinus mandshurica) in studied site. The results showed that the process of litter decomposition can be separated into two apparent stages. The initial decomposition process at former six months was slow, while accelerated the final six months. The former six months (from October 2009 to April 2010) was winter and spring. There was low temperature and almost no activity of soil fauna and microbes. The final six months (from June to October 2010), decomposition rates increased. In summer and autumn, both temperature and moisture increases, abundance of soil fauna was much than before and was most active. The remaining mass of P. koraiensis was higher than that of F. mandshurica in two mesh size litterbags after 1 year decomposition, meanwhile litter in 2 mm mesh size litterbag had higher decomposition rate than that of 0.01 mm for two species litter. The Collembola, Acari, Enchytraeidae Lithobiomorpha and Diptera larvae were mainly fauna groups in the litterbags. The composition of soil fauna community was difference between P. koraiensis and F. mandshurica during litter decomposition. 24 different soil fauna groups and 1431 individual were obtained in P. koraiensis litterbags; Isotomidae, Tomoceridae and Oribatida were dominant groups; while 31 different soil fauna groups and 1255 individual were obtained in F. mandshurica litterbags; Isotomidae, Hypogastruridae Oribatida and Mesostigmata were dominant groups. The rate of litter decomposition was positively correlated with the individual and group density of soil fauna. Contribution rate to litter decomposition was 1.70% for P. koraiensis and 4.83% for F. mandshurica. Repeated measures ANOVA showed that litter species, time and soil fauna had a significant impact on the rate of litter decomposition (P < 0.05). Our results suggested that soil fauna could accelerate litter decomposition and, consequently, nutrient cycling in P. koraiensis mixed broad-leaved forest, Changbai Mountains.     

Highly reduced mass loss rates and increased litter layer in radioactively contaminated areas

The effects of radioactive contamination from Chernobyl on decomposition of plant material still remain unknown. We predicted that decomposition rate would be reduced in the most contaminated sites due to an absence or reduced densities of soil invertebrates. If microorganisms were the main agents responsible for decomposition, exclusion of large soil invertebrates should not affect decomposition. In September 2007 we deposited 572 bags with uncontaminated dry leaf litter from four species of trees in the leaf litter layer at 20 forest sites around Chernobyl that varied in background radiation by more than a factor 2,600. Approximately one quarter of these bags were made of a fine mesh that prevented access to litter by soil invertebrates. These bags were retrieved in June 2008, dried and weighed to estimate litter mass loss. Litter mass loss was 40 % lower in the most contaminated sites relative to sites with a normal background radiation level for Ukraine. Similar reductions in litter mass loss were estimated for individual litter bags, litter bags at different sites, and differences between litter bags at pairs of neighboring sites differing in level of radioactive contamination. Litter mass loss was slightly greater in the presence of large soil invertebrates than in their absence. The thickness of the forest floor increased with the level of radiation and decreased with proportional loss of mass from all litter bags. These findings suggest that radioactive contamination has reduced the rate of litter mass loss, increased accumulation of litter, and affected growth conditions for plants.     

Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Release in a Tropical Seasonal Rain Forest of Xishuangbanna,Southwest China1

We studied litter decomposition and nutrient release in a tropical seasonal rain forest of Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. The monthly decay rates (k) of leaf litter ranged from 0.02 to 0.21/mo, and correlated with rainfall and soil moisture. Annual k values for leaf litter (1.79/yr) averaged 4.2 times of those for coarse wood (2.5–3.5 cm in diameter). The turnover coefficients of forest floor mass (annual litterfall input/mean floor mass) were: 4.11/yr for flowers and fruits, 2.07/yr for leaves, and 1.17/yr for fine wood (≤2 cm in diameter), with resident time decreasing from fine woods (0.85 yr) to leaves (0.48 yr) and to flower and fruits (0.24 yr). Nutrient residence times in the forest floor mass were ranked as: Ca (1.0 yr) > P (0.92 yr) > Mg (0.64 yr) > N (0.36 yr) > K (0.31 yr). Our data suggest that rates of litter decomposition and nutrient release in the seasonal rain forest of Xishuangbanna are slower than those in typical lowland rain forests, but similar to those in tropical semideciduous forests.     

Nutrient fluxes via litterfall and leaf litter decomposition vary across a gradient of soil nutrient supply in a lowland tropical rain forest

The extent to which plant communities are determined by resource availability is a central theme in ecosystem science, but patterns of small-scale variation in resource availability are poorly known. Studies of carbon (C) and nutrient cycling provide insights into factors limiting tree growth and forest productivity. To investigate rates of tropical forest litter production and decomposition in relation to nutrient availability and topography in the absence of confounding large-scale variation in climate and altitude we quantified nutrient fluxes via litterfall and leaf litter decomposition within three distinct floristic associations of tropical rain forest growing along a soil fertility gradient at the Sepilok Forest Reserve (SFR), Sabah, Malaysia. The quantity and nutrient content of small litter decreased along a gradient of soil nutrient availability from alluvial forest (most fertile) through sandstone forest to heath forest (least fertile). Temporal variation in litterfall was greatest in the sandstone forest, where the amount of litter was correlated negatively with rainfall in the previous month. Mass loss and N and P release were fastest from alluvial forest litter, and slowest from heath forest litter. All litter types decomposed most rapidly in the alluvial forest. Stand-level N and P use efficiencies (ratios of litter dry mass to nutrient content) were greatest for the heath forest followed by the sandstone ridge, sandstone valley and alluvial forests, respectively. We conclude that nutrient supply limits productivity most in the heath forest and least in the alluvial forest. Nutrient supply limited productivity in sandstone forest, especially on ridge and hill top sites where nutrient limitation may be exacerbated by reduced rates of litter decomposition during dry periods. The fluxes of N and P varied significantly between the different floristic communities at SFR and these differences may contribute to small-scale variation in species composition.     

Decomposition process in Negev ecosystems

Summary The effects of supplemental water and natural rainfall on decomposition were studied in the Negev Highland desert, Israel. There was a mass loss of approximately 40% in Hammada scoparia leaves and Salsola inermis litter placed on the soil surface and buried in fine mesh bags. There was an annual mass loss of 80% in S. inermis litter buried in large fiberglass mesh bags. Supplemental water provided during the wet season (January to March) did not result in more rapid decomposition of litter of the annual grass Stipa capensis but irrigation during the dry season (August to September) produced a marked increase in the decomposition rate of S. capensis. These data suggest that rain events, not water quantity, are the most important regulators of decomposition in the Negev. Annual rates of decomposition were higher than predicted by models utilizing actual evapotranspiration and lignin content as regulating variables. Rates of decomposition were equal to those reported for tropical wet forests.     

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.     

Contribution of Soil Fauna to Foliar Litter-Mass Loss in Winter in an Ecotone between Dry Valley and Montane Forest in the Upper Reaches of the Minjiang River

Litter decomposition during winter can provide essential nutrients for plant growth in the subsequent growing season, which plays important role in preventing the expansion of dry areas and maintaining the stability of ecotone ecosystems. However, limited information is currently available on the contributions of soil fauna to litter decomposition during winter in such ecosystems. Therefore, a field experiment that included litterbags with two different mesh sizes (0.04 mm and 3 mm) was conducted to investigate the contribution of soil fauna to the loss of foliar litter mass in winter from November 2013 to April 2014 along the upper reaches of the Minjiang River. Two litter types of the dominant species were selected in each ecosystem: cypress (Cupressus chengiana) and oak (Quercus baronii) in ecotone; cypress (Cupressus chengiana) and clovershrub (Campylotropis macrocarpa) in dry valley; and fir (Abies faxoniana) and birch (Betula albosinensis) in montane forest. Over one winter incubation, foliar litter lost 6.0%-16.1%, 11.4%-26.0%, and 6.4%-8.5% of initial mass in the ecotone, dry valley and montane forest, respectively. Soil fauna showed obvious contributions to the loss of foliar litter mass in all of the ecosystems. The highest contribution (48.5%-56.8%) was observed in the ecotone, and the lowest contribution (0.4%-25.8%) was observed in the montane forest. Compared with other winter periods, thawing period exhibited higher soil fauna contributions to litter mass loss in ecotone and dry valley, but both thawing period and freezing period displayed higher soil fauna contributions in montane forest. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the contribution of soil fauna was significantly correlated with temperature and soil moisture during the winter-long incubation. These results suggest that temperature might be the primary control factor in foliar litter decomposition, but more active soil fauna in the ecotone could contribute more in litter decomposition and its related ecological processes in this region.     

Do soil organisms affect aboveground litter decomposition in the semiarid Patagonian steppe, Argentina?

Surface litter decomposition in arid and semiarid ecosystems is often faster than predicted by climatic parameters such as annual precipitation or evapotranspiration, or based on standard indices of litter quality such as lignin or nitrogen concentrations. Abiotic photodegradation has been demonstrated to be an important factor controlling aboveground litter decomposition in aridland ecosystems, but soil fauna, particularly macrofauna such as termites and ants, have also been identified as key players affecting litter mass loss in warm deserts. Our objective was to quantify the importance of soil organisms on surface litter decomposition in the Patagonian steppe in the absence of photodegradative effects, to establish the relative importance of soil organisms on rates of mass loss and nitrogen release. We estimated the relative contribution of soil fauna and microbes to litter decomposition of a dominant grass using litterboxes with variable mesh sizes that excluded groups of soil fauna based on size class (10, 2, and 0.01 mm), which were placed beneath shrub canopies. We also employed chemical repellents (naphthalene and fungicide). The exclusion of macro- and mesofauna had no effect on litter mass loss over 3 years (P = 0.36), as litter decomposition was similar in all soil fauna exclusions and naphthalene-treated litter. In contrast, reduction of fungal activity significantly inhibited litter decomposition (P < 0.001). Although soil fauna have been mentioned as a key control of litter decomposition in warm deserts, biogeographic legacies and temperature limitation may constrain the importance of these organisms in temperate aridlands, particularly in the southern hemisphere.