Control of plant growth by nitrogen and phosphorus in mesotrophic fens

A fertilization experiment was carried out in 3 mesotrophic fens to investigate whether plant growth in these systems is controlled by the availability of N, P or K. The fens are located in an area with high N inputs from precipitation. They are annually mown in the summer to prevent succession to woodland. Above-ground plant biomass increased significantly upon N fertilization in the two mid-succession fens studied. In the late-succession fen that had been mown for at least 60 years, however, plant biomass increased significantly upon P fertilization. The mowing regime depletes the P pool in the soil, while it keeps N inputs and outputs in balance. A long-term shift occurs from limitation of plant production by N toward limitation by P. Hence, mowing is a suitable management tool to conserve the mesothrophic character of the fens.     

Nitrogen supply effects on productivity and potential leaf litter decay of Carex species from peatlands differing in nutrient limitation

We investigated the effect of increased N-supply on productivity and potential litter decay rates of Carex species, which are the dominant vascular plant species in peatlands in the Netherlands. We hypothesized that: (1) under conditions of N-limited plant growth, increased N-supply will lead to increased productivity but will not affect C:N ratios of plant litter and potential decay rates of that litter; and (2) under conditions of P-limited plant growth, increased N-supply will not affect productivity but it will lead to lower C:N ratios in plant litter and thereby to a higher potential decay rate of that litter. These hypotheses were tested by fertilization experiments (addition of 10 g N m^-2 year^-1) in peatlands in which plant growth was N-limited and P-limited, respectively. We investigated the effects of fertilization on net C-fixation by plant biomass, N uptake, leaf litter chemistry and potential leaf litter decay. In a P-limited peatland, dominated by Carex lasiocarpa, there was no significant increase of net C-fixation by plant biomass upon enhanced N-supply, although N-uptake had increased significantly compared with the unfertilized control. Due to the N-fertilization the C:N ratio in the plant biomass decreased significantly. Similarly, the C:N ratio of leaf litter produced at the end of the experiment showed a significant decrease upon enhanced N-supply. The potential decay rate of that litter, measured as CO₂-evolution from the litter under aerobic conditions, was significantly increase upon enhanced N-supply. In a N-limited peatland, dominated by C. acutiformis, the net C-fixation by plant biomass increased with increasing N-supply, whereas the increase in N-uptake was not significant. The C:N ratio of both living plant material and of dead leaves did not change in response to N-fertilization. The potential decay rate of the leaf litter was not affected by N-supply. The results agree with our hypotheses. This implies that atmospheric N-deposition may affect the CO₂-sink function of peatlands, but the effect is dependent on the nature of nutrient limitation. In peatlands where plant growth is N-limited, increased N-supply leads to an increase in the net accumulation of C. Under conditions of P-limited plant growth, however, the net C-accumulation will decrease, because productivity is not further increased, whereas the amount of C lost through decomposition of dead organic matter is increased. As plant growth in most terrestrial ecosystems is N-limited, increased N-supply will in most peatlands lead to an increase of net C-accumulation.     

杉木与伴生植物凋落物混合分解的相互作用研究

通过对杉木与9种伴生植物凋落物混合分解特征比较研究表明,8种植物对杉木凋落物的分解均有不同程度的促进作用,其中观音座莲对杉木凋落物分解的促进最大,而木荷对杉木凋落物分解的影响则表现出先有一定程度的促进而后又有微弱的抑制作用,促进大小表现出观音座莲＞杜茎山＞三龙爪＞狗脊＞苎麻＞丝栗栲＞闽粤栲＞芒萁。杉木 落物反过来对木荷和闽粤栲凋落物有一些抑制作用,而对丝栗栲则有一些促进作用,但这种相互作用未达到显著差异水平。说明杉木与某些伴生植物种类的凋落物在混合分解过程中存在着相互作用的现象,因此,合理保护和恢复林下植物对加快杉木人工林生态系统的养分循环和地力维护具有重要的意义。     

The significance of a root-fungus association in two Carex species of high-alpine plant communities

Summary The relationship between roots of Carex firma, C. sempervirens and their commonly occuring dark septate fungal associates was examined. Two typical fungal associates were isolated and reinoculated onto aseptically grown seedlings of the two host species. Both isolates produced significant increases of dry matter production in C. firma compared with uninoculated controls. No growth stimulation was obtained in C. sempervirens. Shoot phosphorus concentrations were significantly increased in both host species by inoculation. The absence of growth stimulation in C. sempervirens may be due to carbon drain imposed by the fungus or to the fact that nutrients other than phosphorus are growth limiting. The nature and possible ecological significance of the root-fungus association is discussed and it is suggested that the relationship is mutualistic rather than parasitic.Nomenclature follows Wilmanns 1978     

Microcosm tests of the effects of temperature and microbial species number on the decomposition of Carex aquatilis and Sphagnum fuscum litter from southern boreal peatlands

Increased decomposition rates in boreal peatlands with global warming might increase the release of atmospheric greenhouse gases, thereby producing a positive feedback to global warming. How temperature influences microbial decomposers is unclear. We measured in vitro rates of decomposition of senesced sedge leaves and rhizomes (Carex aquatilis), from a fen, and peat moss (Sphagnum fuscum), from a bog, at 14 and 20 degrees C by the three most frequently isolated fungi and bacteria from these materials. Decomposition rates of the bog litter decreased (5- to 17-fold) with elevated temperatures, and decomposition of the sedge litters was either enhanced (2- to 30-fold) or remained unaffected by elevated temperatures. The increased temperature regime always favoured fungal over bacterial decomposition rates (2- to 3-fold). Different physiological characteristics of these microbes suggest that fungi using polyphenolic polymers as a carbon source cause greater mass losses of these litters. Litter quality exerted a stronger influence on decomposition at elevated temperatures, as litter rich in nutrients decomposed more quickly than litter poorer in nutrients at higher temperatures (8.0%-25.7% for the sedge litters vs. 0.2% for the bryophyte litter). We conclude that not all peatlands may provide a positive feedback to global warming. Cautious extrapolation of our data to the ecosystem level suggests that decomposition rates in fens may increase and those in bogs may decrease under a global warming scenario.     

Decomposition and nutrient dynamics in mixed litter of Mediterranean species

In the last decade a great research effort addressed the effects of litter diversity on ecosystem functions, reporting both synergistic and antagonistic effects for decomposition dynamics. Four coexisting Mediterranean species, representing a range of litter quality, were used to arrange litter mixtures at three diversity levels for a litterbag decomposition experiment. Species identity appeared as the major determinant for litter mass loss (Coronilla emerus～Hedera helix>Festuca drymeia>Quercus ilex) and nutrient release, with rates for all leaf litter types following the sequence K>N>Mg≥Ca>>Fe. Additive diversity effects were prevalent pooling together all data but also for nutrients separately. Antagonistic interactions were more common than synergistic in the cases of mass loss, N and Ca contents, but not for K, Mg and Fe dynamics. The number of species in the litterbag significantly affected the outcome of non-additive interactions, which were mostly antagonistic for two-species mixtures, and synergistic for the combined 4 species. Litter quality appears to be the most important factor affecting mass loss and nutrient dynamics, while litter diversity, influencing the rates of these processes, plays an important role in reducing their variability, thus suggesting a greater stability of ecosystems properties in presence of mixed litter.     

Decomposition of litter produced under elevated CO2: Dependence on plant species and nutrient supply

We investigated the effect of CO₂ concentration and soilnutrient availability during growth on the subsequent decomposition andnitrogen (N) release from litter of four annual grasses that differ inresource requirements and native habitat. Vulpia microstachys isa native grass found on California serpentine soils, whereas Avenafatua, Bromus hordaceus, and Lolium multiflorum areintroduced grasses restricted to more fertile sandstone soils (Hobbs & Mooney 1991). Growth in elevated CO₂ altered litter C:N ratio,decomposition, and N release, but the direction and magnitude of thechanges differed among plant species and nutrient treatments. ElevatedCO₂ had relatively modest effects on C:N ratio of litter,increasing this ratio in Lolium roots (and shoots at high nutrients),but decreasing C:N ratio in Avena shoots. Growth of plants underelevated CO₂ decreased the decomposition rate of Vulpialitter, but increased decomposition of Avena litter from the high-nutrient treatment. The impact of elevated CO₂ on N loss fromlitter also differed among species, with Vulpia litter from high-CO₂ plants releasing N more slowly than ambient-CO₂litter, whereas growth under elevated CO₂ caused increased Nloss from Avena litter. CO₂ effects on N release in Lolium and Bromus depended on the nutrient regime in whichplants were grown. There was no overall relationship between litter C:Nratio and decomposition rate or N release across species and treatments.Based on our study and the literature, we conclude that the effects ofelevated CO₂ on decomposition and N release from litter arehighly species-specific. These results do not support the hypothesis thatCO₂ effects on litter quality consistently lead to decreasednutrient availability in nutrient-limited ecosystems exposed to elevatedCO₂.     

Foliar litter chemistry mediates susceptibility to UV degradation in two dominant species from a semi-arid ecosystem

Plant and Soil - Abiotic processes such as photodegradation play important roles in litter decomposition in semi-arid ecosystems. However, little is known about whether UV degradation responds...     

遮阴对两种泥炭藓植物生长及相互作用的影响

以大泥炭藓和喙叶泥炭藓为材料,研究遮阴对其生长及植物相互作用的影响.结果表明:在单种群中,遮阴处理明显促进了大泥炭藓的高生长,但对喙叶泥炭藓的生长以及大泥炭藓生物量和分枝数未产生影响;在混合群中,喙叶泥炭藓抑制了大泥炭藓生物量和分枝数的增长,而大泥炭藓对喙叶泥炭藓的生长无影响.随遮阴胁迫的增加,邻体对喙叶泥炭藓竞争加剧,当胁迫进一步增强,邻体效应有转变为正相互作用的趋势,但邻体对大泥炭藓的效应始终为竞争,未随胁迫增加而变化.     

Ecophysiological adjustment of two Sphagnum species in response to anthropogenic nitrogen deposition

Here, it was investigated whether Sphagnum species have adjusted their nitrogen (N) uptake in response to the anthropogenic N deposition that has drastically altered N-limited ecosystems, including peatlands, worldwide. A lawn species, Sphagnum balticum, and a hummock species, Sphagnum fuscum, were collected from three peatlands along a gradient of N deposition (2, 8 and 12 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)). The mosses were subjected to solutions containing a mixture of four N forms. In each solution one of these N forms was labeled with (15)N (namely (15)NH(+)(4), (15)NO(-)(3) and the amino acids [(15)N]alanine (Ala) and [(15)N]glutamic acid (Glu)). It was found that for both species most of the N taken up was from , followed by Ala, Glu, and very small amounts from NO(-)(3). At the highest N deposition site N uptake was reduced, but this did not prevent N accumulation as free amino acids in the Sphagnum tissues. The reduced N uptake may have been genetically selected for under the relatively short period with elevated N exposure from anthropogenic sources, or may have been the result of plasticity in the Sphagnum physiological response. The negligible Sphagnum NO(-)(3) uptake may make any NO(-)(3) deposited readily available to co-occurring vascular plants.     

Responses of two dominant plant species to drought stress and defoliation in the Inner Mongolia Steppe of China

There has been a dramatic shift in dominance from Stipa grandis communities to S. krylovii communities in the Inner Mongolia steppe of China, in recent decades due to climate change and human activity. We examined the growth and carbohydrate allocation pattern of S. grandis and S. krylovii under controlled conditions. The experimental approach involved a drought stress treatment and a simulated defoliation (clipping) treatment of both species. Growth (above ground biomass and root biomass) and carbon allocation (concentration of leaf total phenolics and pool of total non-structural carbohydrate) variables were evaluated at the end of the experiment. Responses to drought stress differed significantly between S. grandis and S. krylovii. For S. krylovii, growth and the pool of total non-structural carbohydrate were more negatively affected by drought stress, whereas concentration of total phenolics was positively affected. Drought stress reinforced responses to defoliation, and drought stress × defoliation interaction was significant for all of the variables. There was a distinct defoliation response level for growth after drought stress between the two species. For aboveground biomass, both species responded positively to drought stress, which changed from responses equivalence to S. krylovii being superior; for root biomass, the two species responded oppositely to drought stress, which changed from S. grandis being superior to S. krylovii being superior. There was a weak and reverse defoliation response level for the carbon allocation pattern after drought stress between the two species, with S. krylovii changing from superior in defense to superior in storage. These results suggested that S. grandis utilized an avoidance strategy (investment in defense compounds) and S. krylovii utilized a tolerance strategy (investment in storage for regrowth) in response to defoliation under drought stress, supporting the idea that stress-tolerant species may become the new dominant species because of their ability to re-grow after disturbance. This provided a possible explanation for the replacement of S. grandis communities from the view point of adaptive strategy.     

Incorporation of carbon from decomposing litter of two pioneer plant species into microbial communities of the detritusphere

For several Staphylococci, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, invasion of eukaryotic cells has been described and this mechanism has been considered an important part of the infection process. The fibrinogen-binding protein (Fbl) of Staphylococcus lugdunensis, a homolog of the clumping factor A of S. aureus, has been described as fibrinogen-binding adhesin and might promote invasion of cells. We therefore characterized several clinical strains of S. lugdunensis in terms of whole cell fibrinogen and fibronectin binding and correlated these results with the invasion of epithelial and endothelial cells by S. lugdunensis. We described for the first time invasion of cells by S. lugdunensis. As invasion of cells by S. lugdunensis was only partly inhibited by cytochalasin D in contrast to a complete inhibition of invasion of cells by S. aureus, further invasion mechanisms are likely to be present in S. lugdunensis. In addition, the Fbl of S. lugdunensis is not involved in the invasion of cells as ruled out by an isogenic fbl mutant.     

Decomposition of cellulose,soil organic matter and plant litter in a temperate grassland soil

The formation of mor humus in an experimental grassland plot, which has been acidified by long-term fertiliser treatment, has been studied by comparing the rates of cellulose, soil organic matter and plant litter decay with those in an adjacent plot with near-neutral pH and mull humus. The decomposition of cellulose filter paper in litter bags of 5 mm, 1-mm and 45-μm mesh size buried at 3 to 4 cm depth the plots was followed by measuring the weight loss and changes in glucose content over a 6 month period. Soil pH was either 5.3 or 4.3. Decomposition of native soil organic matter and plant litter in soil from the same plots were followed using CO₂ evolution in laboratory microcosms. Cellulose weight loss at pH 5.3 was greatest from the 5-mm mesh bags and least from the 45-um mesh bags. At pH 4.3 there was little weight loss from bags and no significant differences in weight loss between bags with different sized mesh. There was, however, a reduction in the glucose content of the hydrolysed and derivatised filter paper with time. The decomposition rate of native soil organic matter in the low pH soil was increased to that observed in the less acid soil when the pH of the former was increased from 4.3 to 5.3. The increase in decomposition rate of added plant litter in the more acid soil as a result of CA(OH)₂ addition was only 60% of that observed in the soil with pH 5.3. These data support the hypothesis that the absence of soil animals and the restricted microbial decomposition in the acidic soil was responsible for mor humus formation.     

Phenotypic diversity and litter chemistry affect nutrient dynamics during litter decomposition in a two species mix

We have previously demonstrated that the intraspecific diversity of leaf litter can influence ecosystem functioning during litter decomposition in the field. It is unknown whether the effects of phenotypic diversity persist when litter from an additional species is present. We used laboratory microcosms to determine whether the intraspecific diversity effects of turkey oak leaf litter on nutrient dynamics are confounded by the presence of naturally co-occurring longleaf pine litter. We varied the phenotypic diversity of oak litter (1, 3, and 6 phenotype combinations) in the presence and absence of pine litter and measured fluxes of carbon and nitrogen over a 42-week period. The average soil C:N ratio peaked at intermediate levels of oak phenotypic diversity and the total amount of dissolved organic carbon leached from microcosms decreased (marginally) with increasing oak phenotypic diversity. The soil carbon content, and the total amount of ammonium, nitrate, and dissolved organic carbon leached from microcosms were all influenced by initial litter chemistry. Our results suggest that the effects of phenotypic diversity can persist in the presence of another species, however specific litter chemistries (condensed and hydrolysable tannins, simple phenolics, C:N ratios) are more important than phenotypic litter diversity to most nutrient fluxes during litter decomposition.     

Decomposition and element concentrations of Norway spruce needle litter with differing B, N, or P status

Adequate boron (B) nutrition may decrease concentrations of phenolic compounds and enhance structural integrity and lignification in plants, compared with suboptimal B. This could affect decomposition in areas where B deficiencies are common. The mass loss and changes in element concentrations in Norway spruce needle litter were studied with combinations of litter from high-B and low-B trees, incubated for 29 months, in either B fertilised or control plots without B addition. The litter originated from the same Norway spruce field experiments. Additionally, the field experiments included long-term N and P treatments. Initially, lowest lignin concentrations were found in Norway spruce litter from the treatment P and particularly in the combination B?+?P, and highest in the B?+?N fertilised plots. The mass loss of Norway spruce litter was not affected by the treatments. However, B_litter increased Cu accumulation. The litter from the B?+?P fertilised plots accumulated considerably more Al, Ca, S and Zn than the other treatments, whereas B together with N reduced the remaining amounts of these elements. Reduced nutrient release from litter may have far-reaching consequences on nutrient cycles in forests.     

Decomposition rate and nutrient release from plant litter of Norway spruce forest in the Bohemian Forest

The role of litter composition and quality on the nutrient release was studied in three month laboratory experiment. Spruce needles and leaves of four species dominant in understorey vegetation of the Norway spruce forest were collected in early autumn and incubated at 5°C, 10°C and 15°C. C mineralization was measured every two weeks, concentration of NH₄, NO₃, dissolved organic N, dissolved organic C and oxalate extractable P at the beginning and end of incubation and decay rate and nutrient release was calculated. Freshly senescent leaves contained less N and P indicating nutrient reallocation. Effect of temperature on a decay rate and nutrient transformation was not significant while the effect of litter quality expressed by C/N ratio at the end of incubation was. The decay rate was the fastest for the fern (Athyrium alpestre) and decreased in order: Callamagrostis villosa > Vaccinium myrtillus > Avenella flexuosa > spruce needles. The critical C/N ratio bellow which mineral N was released in high amount was around a value of 32. The results indicte that an increase of coverage of understorey vegetation can increase a risk of nutrient release.     

秦岭火地塘林区四种主要树种凋落叶分解速率

利用野外分解袋法对秦岭火地塘林区油松、华山松、华北落叶松、锐齿栎凋落叶的分解速率和养分释放趋势进行研究。结果表明,分解2年后,4种树种凋落叶的干物质残留率在35.6%～58.6%,残留率大小顺序为油松>华山松>华北落叶松>锐齿栎。除油松与华山松凋落叶之间残留率差异不显著外,各树种之间凋落叶分解后的残留率差异显著。在2个试验年度中,4-9月凋落叶分解最快,在其他月份保持较平稳的分解速度,分解前12个月凋落叶失重速度明显大于后12个月,呈明显的季节和阶段性差异。利用Olson模型对凋落叶分解50%和95%所需时间进行估测,结果显示,不同树种所需时间差异显著,其中锐齿栎凋落叶95%被分解所需时间最短,为5.43年,油松最长,为9.87年。凋落叶中N、P元素在分解第1年均表现出富集现象,直至1年后达到一个最高值后,开始释放,C含量则呈现出逐步下降的趋势。导致不同树种凋落叶分解速率及养分释放速率差异主要与不同凋落叶的初始质量和性质有关。