全球变化对陆地生态系统枯落物分解的影响

了解枯落物分解对大大二氧化碳浓度增高,气候变暖和降水变化的反应,对深入理解陆地生态系统土壤有机物形成和碳的固化能力（Carbonh sequestration)十分重要。通过分析业已发表的文献,实验室根系分解实验和美国西北部针叶林叶片的分解实验,旨在评估大气二氧化碳浓度增高,气候变暖和降水化对陆地生态系统枯落物分解的可能影响,大气二氧化碳浓度增高可通过降低枯落物质量和增加草原生态系统土壤水分间接地影响枯落物分离,根据17项研究结果,大气二氧化碳浓度加倍可导致木本和草本枯落物平均氮含量降低19．6％和9．4％;木质素／氮化值增高36．3％和5．5％,枯落物质地的降低通常导致枯落物分解减慢。气候变暖一般加速枯落物的分解,但是用于表示这种促进作用的Q10随着温度的增高而降低,全球降水变化对陆地生态系统枯落物分解的影响不但取决于现有水分条件而且还以决于降水变的程度。以美国西北部地的针叶林为例,降水改变对森林生态系统枯落物分解的影响将是 多元的,有的增加,有的降低,而有的相对不变,最后,指出了今后 在方该领域有待加强的几个研究方面。     

Leaf litter traits drive community structure and functioning in a natural aquatic microcosm

相似文献   

Global negative vegetation feedback to climate warming responses of leaf litter decomposition rates in cold biomes

Whether climate change will turn cold biomes from large long-term carbon sinks into sources is hotly debated because of the great potential for ecosystem-mediated feedbacks to global climate. Critical are the direction, magnitude and generality of climate responses of plant litter decomposition. Here, we present the first quantitative analysis of the major climate-change-related drivers of litter decomposition rates in cold northern biomes worldwide. Leaf litters collected from the predominant species in 33 global change manipulation experiments in circum-arctic-alpine ecosystems were incubated simultaneously in two contrasting arctic life zones. We demonstrate that longer-term, large-scale changes to leaf litter decomposition will be driven primarily by both direct warming effects and concomitant shifts in plant growth form composition, with a much smaller role for changes in litter quality within species. Specifically, the ongoing warming-induced expansion of shrubs with recalcitrant leaf litter across cold biomes would constitute a negative feedback to global warming. Depending on the strength of other (previously reported) positive feedbacks of shrub expansion on soil carbon turnover, this may partly counteract direct warming enhancement of litter decomposition.     

鄱阳湖湿地优势植物叶片-凋落物-土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征

2013年11月初在鄱阳湖南矶湿地国家级自然保护区,采集芦苇(Phragmites australis)、南荻(Triarrhena lutarioriparia)、菰(Zizania latifolia(Griseb.))、灰化苔草(Carex cinerascens)、红穗苔草(Carex argyi)和水蓼(Polygonum hydropiper)等6种优势植物新鲜叶片、凋落物及表层0—15cm土壤样品测定了碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量,以阐明不同物种、不同生活型间C、N、P化学计量差异,探讨化学计量垂直分异。结果表明:1)C、N、P含量变化范围分别为:叶片380.6—432.2 mg/g,15.3—32.6 mg/g和1.3—2.0 mg/g;凋落物345.4—416.1 mg/g,10.8—20.8 mg/g和1.1—1.7 mg/g;土壤15.0—38.1 mg/g,1.2—3.1 mg/g和0.7—1.1mg/g,不同物种间叶片、凋落物及土壤C、N、P含量差异显著,且叶片C、N、P含量显著高于凋落物与土壤。2)土壤C∶N、C∶P及N∶P值显著低于叶片与凋落物,且土壤C、N、P化学计量关系与凋落物更为密切,凋落物的C∶N、N∶P分别能解释土壤C∶N、N∶P变异的35%、18%。3)挺水植物与湿生植物之间叶片C∶N、N∶P值差异显著,C∶P则差异不显著,凋落物C∶N、C∶P与N∶P均未达到显著性差异。     

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。     

Plant species traits are the predominant control on litter decomposition rates within biomes worldwide

Worldwide decomposition rates depend both on climate and the legacy of plant functional traits as litter quality. To quantify the degree to which functional differentiation among species affects their litter decomposition rates, we brought together leaf trait and litter mass loss data for 818 species from 66 decomposition experiments on six continents. We show that: (i) the magnitude of species-driven differences is much larger than previously thought and greater than climate-driven variation; (ii) the decomposability of a species' litter is consistently correlated with that species' ecological strategy within different ecosystems globally, representing a new connection between whole plant carbon strategy and biogeochemical cycling. This connection between plant strategies and decomposability is crucial for both understanding vegetation-soil feedbacks, and for improving forecasts of the global carbon cycle.     

Climate change effects on macrofaunal litter decomposition: the interplay of temperature,body masses and stoichiometry

Macrofauna invertebrates of forest floors provide important functions in the decomposition process of soil organic matter, which is affected by the nutrient stoichiometry of the leaf litter. Climate change effects on forest ecosystems include warming and decreasing litter quality (e.g. higher C : nutrient ratios) induced by higher atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. While litter-bag experiments unravelled separate effects, a mechanistic understanding of how interactions between temperature and litter stoichiometry are driving decomposition rates is lacking. In a laboratory experiment, we filled this void by quantifying decomposer consumption rates analogous to predator–prey functional responses that include the mechanistic parameters handling time and attack rate. Systematically, we varied the body masses of isopods, the environmental temperature and the resource between poor (hornbeam) and good quality (ash). We found that attack rates increased and handling times decreased (i) with body masses and (ii) temperature. Interestingly, these relationships interacted with litter quality: small isopods possibly avoided the poorer resource, whereas large isopods exhibited increased, compensatory feeding of the poorer resource, which may be explained by their higher metabolic demands. The combination of metabolic theory and ecological stoichiometry provided critically important mechanistic insights into how warming and varying litter quality may modify macrofaunal decomposition rates.     

Litter decomposition in grasslands of Central North America (US Great Plains)

One of the major concerns about global warming is the potential for an increase in decomposition and soil respiration rates, increasing CO₂ emissions and creating a positive feedback between global warming and soil respiration. This is particularly important in ecosystems with large belowground biomass, such as grasslands where over 90% of the carbon is allocated belowground. A better understanding of the relative influence of climate and litter quality on litter decomposition is needed to predict these changes accurately in grasslands. The Long‐Term Intersite Decomposition Experiment Team (LIDET) dataset was used to evaluate the influence of climatic variables (temperature, precipitation, actual evapotranspiration, and climate decomposition index), and litter quality (lignin content, carbon : nitrogen, and lignin : nitrogen ratios) on leaf and root decomposition in the US Great Plains. Wooden dowels were used to provide a homogeneous litter quality to evaluate the relative importance of above and belowground environments on decomposition. Contrary to expectations, temperature did not explain variation in root and leaf decomposition, whereas precipitation partially explained variation in root decomposition. Percent lignin was the best predictor of leaf and root decomposition. It also explained most variation in root decomposition in models which combined litter quality and climatic variables. Despite the lack of relationship between temperature and root decomposition, temperature could indirectly affect root decomposition through decreased litter quality and increased water deficits. These results suggest that carbon flux from root decomposition in grasslands would increase, as result of increasing temperature, only if precipitation is not limiting. However, where precipitation is limiting, increased temperature would decrease root decomposition, thus likely increasing carbon storage in grasslands. Under homogeneous litter quality, belowground decomposition was faster than aboveground and was best predicted by mean annual precipitation, which also suggests that the high moisture in soil accelerates decomposition belowground.     

Genotypic trait variation modifies effects of climate warming and nitrogen deposition on litter mass loss and microbial respiration

Intraspecific variation in genotypically determined traits can influence ecosystem processes. Therefore, the impact of climate change on ecosystems may depend, in part, on the distribution of plant genotypes. Here we experimentally assess effects of climate warming and excess nitrogen supply on litter decomposition using 12 genotypes of a cosmopolitan foundation species collected across a 2100 km latitudinal gradient and grown in a common garden. Genotypically determined litter‐chemistry traits varied substantially within and among geographic regions, which strongly affected decomposition and the magnitude of warming effects, as warming accelerated litter mass loss of high‐nutrient, but not low‐nutrient, genotypes. Although increased nitrogen supply alone had no effect on decomposition, it strongly accelerated litter mass loss of all genotypes when combined with warming. Rates of microbial respiration associated with the leaf litter showed nearly identical responses as litter mass loss. These results highlight the importance of interactive effects of environmental factors and suggest that loss or gain of genetic variation associated with key phenotypic traits can buffer, or exacerbate, the impact of global change on ecosystem process rates in the future.     

凋落物分解及其影响机制

为系统了解中国凋落物分解及其影响机制的研究进展, 基于当前常用的4个学术期刊数据库(中国知网、ISI Web of Science、ScienceDirect和Springer Link), 检索1986-2018年的相关文献并进行计量分析。中国凋落物分解研究以森林生态系统为主(占65%), 且多集中于易于观测的地上凋落物部分, 未来应加强地下部根系凋落物分解研究。凋落物分解研究对象通常选取当地优势种或主要组成物种(约占68%), 考虑到混合效应的存在, 仅依据单一凋落物分解研究结果来反映自然界中混合凋落物的实际分解特征具有局限性。目前中国凋落物分解研究主要集中在碳、氮、磷3种元素上, 应更多关注影响分解的重要化学组分(如钾、铁、锰、木质素、单宁等)和环境污染相关重金属元素的迁移转化及调控机理。未来需将植物-凋落物-土壤作为一个整体, 结合生态化学计量学, 系统研究各元素的生物地球化学循环过程、机制及耦合关系。氮沉降和气候变化对凋落物分解的影响是当前研究热点, 特别是氮、磷等多因子交互作用对凋落物分解的影响, 以及气候变暖背景下凋落物分解的温度敏感性、冻土区凋落物分解驱动机制的研究。     

氮沉降对森林土壤有机质和凋落物分解的影响及其微生物学机制

氮沉降持续增加背景下土壤C∶N∶P化学计量比和pH环境等的改变及其可能的土壤微生物学机制已经成为陆地生态系统与全球变化研究的新生长点和科学研究前沿.以生态化学计量学和土壤微生物生态学为理论基础,综述了氮沉降对森林土壤有机质和凋落物分解的影响及其微生物学机制的基本理论、最新进展、研究热点与难点,旨在促进全球变化背景下陆地生态系统地下生态学的研究.氮沉降持续增加会导致森林生态系统磷循环加速,导致磷限制.氮沉降不但改变森林土壤有机质和凋落物的C∶N∶P化学计量比和降低土壤pH值,而且改变土壤微生物生物量碳氮磷、细菌、真菌和放线菌的组成以及影响碳氮磷分解的关键酶活性.氮沉降对森林土壤有机质和凋落物分解的影响表现为促进、抑制和无影响,其影响的差异可能来源于微生物效应的不同.叶片在凋落前有显著的氮磷养分回收,但是根无明显的养分回收,造成土壤有机质和凋落物的C∶N∶P化学计量比存在明显差异.基于DNA/RNA等分子生物学方法为土壤微生物生态学研究提供了强有力的手段,将促进氮沉降对森林土壤有机质和凋落物化学计量比改变的微生物学机制研究.     

Leaf traits and decomposition in tropical rainforests: revisiting some commonly held views and towards a new hypothesis

Proper estimates of decomposition are essential for tropical forests, given their key role in the global carbon (C) cycle. However, the current paradigm for litter decomposition is insufficient to account for recent observations and may limit model predictions for highly diverse tropical ecosystems. In light of recent findings from a nutrient-poor Amazonian rainforest, we revisit the commonly held views that: litter traits are a mere legacy of live leaf traits; nitrogen (N) and lignin are the key litter traits controlling decomposition; and favourable climatic conditions result in rapid decomposition in tropical forests. Substantial interspecific variation in litter phosphorus (P) was found to be unrelated to variation in green leaves. Litter nutrients explained no variation in decomposition, which instead was controlled primarily by non-lignin litter C compounds at low concentrations with important soil fauna effects. Despite near-optimal climatic conditions, tropical litter decomposition proceeded more slowly than in a climatically less favourable temperate forest. We suggest that slow decomposition in the studied rainforest results from a syndrome of poor litter C quality beyond a simple lignin control, enforcing energy starvation of decomposers.We hypothesize that the litter trait syndrome in nutrient-poor tropical rainforests may have evolved to increase plant access to limiting nutrients via mycorrhizal associations.     

Factors influencing leaf litter decomposition: an intersite decomposition experiment across China

The Long-Term Intersite Decomposition Experiment in China (hereafter referred to as LTIDE-China) was established in 2002 to study how substrate quality and macroclimate factors affect leaf litter decomposition. The LTIDE-China includes a wide variety of natural and managed ecosystems, consisting of 12 forest types (eight regional broadleaf forests, three needle-leaf plantations and one broadleaf plantation) at eight locations across China. Samples of mixed leaf litter from the south subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest in Dinghushan (referred to as the DHS sample) were translocated to all 12 forest types. The leaf litter from each of other 11 forest types was placed in its original forest to enable comparison of decomposition rates of DHS and local litters. The experiment lasted for 30 months, involving collection of litterbags from each site every 3 months. Our results show that annual decomposition rate-constants, as represented by regression fitted k-values, ranged from 0.169 to 1.454/year. Climatic factors control the decomposition rate, in which mean annual temperature and annual actual evapotranspiration are dominant and mean annual precipitation is subordinate. Initial C/N and N/P ratios were demonstrated to be important factors of regulating litter decomposition rate. Decomposition process may apparently be divided into two phases controlled by different factors. In our study, 0.75 years is believed to be the dividing line of the two phases. The fact that decomposition rates of DHS litters were slower than those of local litters may have been resulted from the acclimation of local decomposer communities to extraneous substrate.     

荒漠区地表凋落物分解对季节性降水增加的响应

为探讨季节性降水增加对荒漠生态系统凋落物分解的影响, 在古尔班通古特沙漠南缘, 选择粗柄独尾草(Eremurus inderiensis)叶、尖喙牻牛儿苗(Erodium oxyrrhynchum)叶、尖喙牻牛儿苗茎、沙漠绢蒿(Seriphidium santolinum)茎4种凋落物样品, 在2009-2011年研究了模拟季节降水增加(冬春增雪、夏季增水)和自然降水处理下凋落物的分解。持续2年的分解实验表明: (1)各组分凋落物的质量损失过程可以用负指数衰减方程较好地拟合(R²> 0.90); 经过637天的分解, 各组分凋落物质量残留率在自然降水、冬春增雪、夏季增水处理下均无显著性差异(p > 0.05)。粗柄独尾草叶、尖喙牻牛儿苗叶、尖喙牻牛儿苗茎、沙漠绢蒿茎在自然降水处理下的质量残留率分别为40.59%、35.50%、36.00%和63.96%; (2)各组分凋落物的质量残留率与N残留率显著正相关, 凋落物N的损失快于其质量损失, 且初始N含量与分解速率显著正相关(r = 0.60, p = 0.038), C/N解释了71%的地面凋落物分解速率。研究表明, 季节性的短暂降水增加对荒漠区地表凋落物分解没有显著影响, 凋落物初始化学组成是预测荒漠区地表凋落物分解的重要因素。     

湿地枯落物分解及其对全球变化的响应

综述了当前湿地枯落物分解及其对全球变化响应的研究动态。湿地枯落物分解研究已随研究方法的改进而不断深化;当前湿地枯落物分解过程研究主要集中在有机质组分和元素含量变化特征的探讨上;湿地枯落物分解同时受生物因素（即枯落物性质以及参与分解的异养微生物和土壤动物的种类、数量和活性等）和非生物因素（即枯落物分解过程的外部环境条件,包括气候条件、水分条件、酸碱度与盐分条件以及湿地沉积的行为与特征等）的制约;模型已成为湿地枯落物分解研究的重要手段,对其研究也在不断深化。还讨论了湿地枯落物分解对于全球变化的响应,指出全球变暖、大气CO2浓度上升、干湿沉降及其化学组成改变可能对枯落物分解产生的直接、间接和综合影响。最后,指出了当前该领域研究尚存在的问题以及今后亟需加强的几个研究方面。     

Detritivore stoichiometric diversity alters litter processing efficiency in a freshwater ecosystem

Many studies have estimated relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and observed generally positive effects. Because detritus is a major food resource in stream ecosystems, decomposition of leaf litter is an important ecosystem process and many studies report the full range of positive, negative and no effects of diversity on decomposition. However, the mechanisms underlying decomposition processes in fresh water remain poorly understood. Organism body stoichiometry relates to consumption rates and tendencies, and decomposition processes of litter may therefore be affected by diversity in detritivore body stoichiometry. We predicted that the stoichiometric diversity of detritivores (differences in C: nutrient ratios among species) would increase the litter processing efficiency (litter mass loss per total capita metabolic capacity) in fresh water through complementation regarding different nutrient requirements. To test this prediction, we conducted a microcosm experiment wherein we manipulated the stoichiometric diversity of detritivores and quantified mass loss of leaf litter mixtures. We compared litter processing efficiency among litter species in each microcosm with single species detritivores, and observed detritivores with nutrient‐rich bodies tended to prefer litter with lower C: nutrient ratios over litter with higher C: nutrient ratios. Furthermore, litter processing efficiencies were significantly higher in the microcosms containing species of detritivores with both nutrient‐rich and ‐poor bodies than microcosms containing species of detritivores including only nutrient‐rich or ‐poor bodies. This might mean a higher stoichiometric diversity of detritivores increased litter processing efficiency. Our results suggest that ecological stoichiometry may improve understanding of links between biodiversity and ecosystem function in freshwater ecosystems.     

Shifts in plant functional community composition under hydrological stress strongly decelerate litter decomposition

Litter decomposition is a key process of nutrient and carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. The decomposition process will likely be altered under ongoing climate change, both through direct effects on decomposer activity and through indirect effects caused by changes in litter quality. We studied how hydrological change indirectly affects decomposition via plant functional community restructuring caused by changes in plant species’ relative abundances (community‐weighted mean (CWM) traits and functional diversity). We further assessed how those indirect litter quality effects compare to direct effects. We set up a mesocosm experiment, in which sown grassland communities and natural turf pieces were subjected to different hydrological conditions (dryness and waterlogging) for two growing seasons. Species‐level mean traits were obtained from trait databases and combined with species’ relative abundances to assess functional community restructuring. We studied decomposition of mixed litter from these communities in a common “litterbed.” These indirect effects were compared to effects of different hydrological conditions on soil respiration and on decomposition of standard litter (direct effects). Dryness reduced biomass production in sown communities and natural turf pieces, while waterlogging only reduced biomass in sown communities. Hydrological stress caused profound shifts in species’ abundances and consequently in plant functional community composition. Hydrologically stressed communities had higher CMW leaf dry matter content, lower CMW leaf nitrogen content, and lower functional diversity. Lower CWM leaf N content and functional diversity were strongly related to slower decomposition. These indirect effects paralleled direct effects, but were larger and longer‐lasting. Species mean traits from trait databases had therefore considerable predictive power for decomposition. Our results show that stressful soil moisture conditions, that are likely to occur more frequently in the future, quickly shift species’ abundances. The resulting functional community restructuring will decelerate decomposition under hydrological stress.     

Stoichiometric imbalances between detritus and detritivores are related to shifts in ecosystem functioning

How are resource consumption and growth rates of litter‐consuming detritivores affected by imbalances between consumer and litter C:N:P ratios? To address this question, we offered leaf litter as food to three aquatic detritivore species, which represent a gradient of increasing body N:P ratios: a crustacean, a caddisfly and a stonefly. The detritivores were placed in microcosms and submerged in a natural stream. Four contrasting leaf species were offered, both singly and in two‐species mixtures, to obtain different levels of stoichiometric imbalance between the resources and their consumers. The results suggest that detritivore growth was constrained by N rather than C or P, even though 1) the N:P ratios of the consumers’ body tissue was relatively low and 2) microbial leaf conditioning during the experiment reduced the N:P imbalance between detritivores and leaf litter. This surprisingly consistent N limitation may be a consequence of cumulative N‐demand arising from the production of N‐rich chitin in the exoskeletons of all three consumer species, which is lost during regular moults, in addition to N‐demand for silk production by the caddisfly. These N requirements are not commonly quantified in stoichiometric analyses of arthropod consumers. There was no evidence for compensatory feeding, but when offered mixed‐species litter varying in C:N:P ratios, detritivores consumed more of the litter species showing the highest N:P and lowest C:N ratio, accelerating the mass loss of the preferred leaf species in the litter mixture. These results show that imbalances in consumer–resource stoichiometry can have contrasting effects on coupled processes, highlighting a challenge in developing a mechanistic understanding of the role of stoichiometry in regulating ecosystem processes such as leaf litter decomposition.     

陆地生态系统凋落物分解对全球气候变暖的响应

陆地生态系统凋落物分解是全球碳收支的一个重要组成部分, 主要受气候、凋落物质量和土壤生物群落的综合控制。科学家们普遍认为全球气候变化将对陆地生态系统凋落物分解产生复杂而深远的影响。该文结合凋落物分解试验的常用方法——缩微试验、原位模拟实验和自然环境梯度实验, 归纳现有研究结果, 意在揭示全球气候变化对陆地生态系统凋落物分解的直接影响(温度对凋落物分解速率的影响)和间接影响(温度对凋落物质量、土壤微生物群落及植被型的影响)的普遍规律。各种研究方法都表明: 在水分条件理想的情况下, 温度升高往往能加快凋落物的分解速率; 原位模拟实验中, 凋落物分解速率因物种、增温方法和地理方位而异; 全球气候变化能改变凋落物质量, 但可能不会在短期内影响凋落物的分解速率; 凋落物质量和可分解性的种间差异远大于增温所引发的表型响应差异, 那么, 气候变化所引发的植物群落结构和物种组成的变化将对陆地生态系统凋落物分解产生更强烈的影响; 土壤生物群落如何响应全球气候变化, 进而怎样影响凋落物分解过程, 这些都还存在着极大的不确定性。     

Effect of wood density and water permeability on wood decomposition rates of 32 Bornean rainforest trees

Aims A better understanding of wood litter decomposition is essential for predicting responses of forest ecosystems to global climate change. Recent studies suggest that chemical properties of wood litters, rather than physical ones such as wood density, are more important for interspecific differences in wood decomposition rates. However, empirical data are still limited, especially for tropical trees. In addition, decomposition rate of wood litter often varies with time, which makes interspecific comparison difficult. We studied the wood decomposition of 32 rainforest trees to elucidate (i) the degree of interspecific variation in wood decomposition rate of a given size and configuration and (ii) if initial wood density and water permeability are consistent predictors of the overall decomposition rate and its pattern over time.Methods A common garden decomposition experiment was conducted in a tropical rainforest in Malaysian Borneo for 32 native tree species. Small wood sticks were set on the forest floor and the weight loss was monitored monthly for 2.7 years.Important findings We found large variation in the wood decomposition rate (a 49-fold range), suggesting that we need to consider this variation when calculating community-level carbon dynamics of tropical rain forests. The physical traits of wood, i.e. wood density and water permeability, were related to wood decomposition rate and its pattern over time. Decomposition half-time related positively and negatively to initial wood density and water permeability, respectively. The time-dependent-rate model fitted better for 18 species (56% of the study species) that had higher water permeabilities than the others, suggesting that micelle porosity in wood relates to temporal changes in decomposition rate.