Chemistry and toughness predict leaf litter decomposition rates over a wide spectrum of functional types and taxa in central Argentina |
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Authors: | Pérez-Harguindeguy Natalia Díaz Sandra Cornelissen Johannes H C Vendramini Fernanda Cabido Marcelo Castellanos Alejandro |
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Institution: | (1) Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (UNC–CONICET), CC 495, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina;(2) Unit of Comparative Plant Ecology and Sheffield Centre for Arctic Ecology, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University, Sheffield, United Kingdom;(3) Departamento de Investigaciones Científicas, Tecnológicas de la Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, México |
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Abstract: | Litter decomposition, a major determinant of ecosystem functioning, is strongly influenced by the litter quality of different
species. We aimed at (1) relating interspecific variation in leaf litter decomposition rate to the functional types different
species belong to; and (2) understanding the chemical and/or physical basis for such variation and its robustness to environmental
factors. We selected 52 Angiosperms from a climatic gradient in central-western Argentina, representing the widest range of
functional types and habitats published so far. Ten litter samples of each species were simultaneously buried for 9 weeks
during the 1996 summer in an experimental decomposition bed. Decomposition rate was defined as the percentage of dry mass
loss after incubation. Chemical litter quality was measured as carbon (C) content, nitrogen (N) content, and C-to-N ratio.
Since tensile strength of litter and living leaves were strongly correlated, the latter was chosen as an indicator of physical
litter quality. A subset of 15 species representing different functional types was also incubated in England for 15 weeks,
following a similar experimental procedure. Litter C-to-N and leaf tensile strength of the leaves showed the strongest negative
associations with decomposition rate, both at the species and at the functional-type level. Decomposition rates of the same
species in Argentina and in England were strongly correlated. This reinforces previous evidence that species rankings in terms
of litter decomposition rates are robust to methodological and environmental factors. This paper has shown new evidence of
plant control over the turnover of organic matter through litter quality, and confirms, over a broad spectrum of functional
types, general models of resource allocation. The strong correlations between leaf tensile strength – a trait that is easy
and quick to measure in a large number of species – decomposition rate, and C-to-N ratio indicate that leaf tensile strength
can be useful in linking plant quality to decomposition patterns at the ecosystem level.
This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | carbon functional types leaf tensile strength litter quality mass loss nitrogen |
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