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(P0.05),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。     

高山森林溪流冬季不同时期凋落物分解中水溶性氮和磷的动态特征

为了解高山森林溪流凋落物冬季分解过程中水溶性氮和磷的变化过程,采用凋落叶分解袋法,以川西高山森林典型乔木(四川红杉、方枝柏)和灌木(高山杜鹃、康定柳)凋落叶为研究对象,研究冬季不同时期(冻结初期、冻结期、融化期)溪流、河流、河岸带以及林下凋落叶水溶性氮和磷的动态特征.结果表明:经过一个冬季的分解,4种凋落物在不同生境下各时期的水溶性氮含量无显著变化.水溶性磷含量除林下外在其他生境均显著降低,表现出河流＜溪流＜河岸带＜林下的规律.高山森林凋落叶分解过程中水溶性磷含量与平均温度、正积温、负积温和流速呈显著负相关,水溶性氮含量与正积温呈显著正相关,物种显著影响凋落物分解过程中水溶性氮和磷的含量.高山森林凋落物冬季分解过程中水溶性磷更易随河流和溪流等水体的流动而流失,而水溶性氮受冬季水环境的影响相对较小.     

高寒森林溪流对凋落叶分解过程中木质素降解的影响

溪流广泛分布于高寒森林地表, 凋落于其中的林木凋落物的分解是整个森林生态系统物质循环的重要环节, 水体流动过程中的冲刷和淋洗作用及其他独特的环境条件可能显著影响凋落物中木质素的降解。该研究采用凋落袋法对比研究了岷江上游高寒森林4种典型且初始质量差异显著的凋落叶, 即康定柳(Salix paraplesia)、高山杜鹃(Rhododendron lapponicum)、方枝柏(Sabina saltuaria)和四川红杉(Larix mastersiana), 在不同生境(林下、溪流和河岸带)下分解过程中木质素残留质量和浓度(质量百分率)的动态变化特征。经过两年的分解, 发现溪流显著促进了凋落叶中木质素的降解; 同一物种凋落叶在不同生境下木质素残留质量差异显著(p < 0.05), 整体表现为溪流<河岸带<林下; 在凋落叶分解的初期木质素有明显的降解, 其浓度表现为先降低后升高, 但不同物种之间存在显著(p < 0.05)的差异; 在整个分解过程中, 木质素残留质量总体呈现出了降低的趋势。此外, 生境类型、分解时期和区域性环境因子(温度、pH值和营养元素的有效性)能显著影响木质素的降解率。这些结果表明, 传统上认为木质素在凋落叶分解初期相对稳定的观点可能并不准确, 其浓度很可能是先下降后升高, 这也与有关木质素动态的最新研究结果相一致。另一方面, 在不同分解时期和不同生境下, 凋落叶木质素降解率表现出了显著差异, 表明区域性环境因子在凋落叶分解和木质素降解过程中具有重要的作用。     

高寒森林不同生境对凋落叶分解灰分动态的影响

灰分是凋落叶的重要组成部分,其浓度直接关系到凋落叶的分解过程及有机组分的动态特征,且可能受生境和分解时期的影响,然而有关凋落叶分解过程中灰分动态的研究鲜有报道。采用凋落袋法,以岷江上游高寒森林4种代表性植物康定柳(Salix paraplesia)、高山杜鹃(Rhododendron lapponicum)、方枝柏(Sabina saltuaria)和四川红杉(Larix mastersiana)凋落叶为研究对象,研究了高寒森林凋落叶在3种不同环境条件下(林下、溪流、河岸带)分解过程中灰分的动态特征。结果表明,灰分量随凋落叶的分解整体呈现降低的趋势,且不同环境条件和不同物种之间存在明显的差异。与之相反,经过两年的分解,除溪流中康定柳凋落叶灰分浓度略有下降外(-0.99%),林下和河岸带中康定柳凋落叶及其它物种凋落叶中灰分浓度在所有环境条件下均表现出了增加的趋势(5.86%—72.15%)。凋落叶分解过程中灰分浓度变异量在不同分解时期存在明显或显著的差异,且受物种和环境因子的调控。这些结果表明,传统上认为凋落叶分解过程中灰分浓度比较稳定的观点是不准确的,且以凋落叶分解过程中灰分浓度不变的前提下采用无灰分质量损失(ash free mass loss)而计算凋落叶质量损失的方法存在一定的不准确性。研究为认识凋落叶分解过程中灰分的动态特征及凋落叶质量损失的测定方法提供了一定的参考。     

土壤动物对川西亚高山和高山森林凋落叶第一年不同分解时期N和P元素动态的影响

土壤动物对高寒森林凋落物养分元素动态具有重要影响, 但这种影响受控于凋落物质量及环境条件。为了解土壤动物对高寒森林凋落物不同分解时期凋落物中N和P元素动态的影响, 采用凋落物分解袋的方法, 于凋落物第一年分解的不同时期, 即冻结前期、冻结期、融化期、生长季节初期、生长季节中期和生长季节末期, 研究了3.00和0.04 mm孔径凋落物袋中川西亚高山和高山森林的代表性植物——康定柳(Salix paraplesia)、方枝柏(Sabina saltuaria)、红桦(Betula albosinensis)和岷江冷杉(Abies fargesii var. faxoniana)凋落物中的N和P元素动态特征。结果表明: 康定柳和红桦凋落物中的N元素呈现出释放—富集—释放的模式, 方枝柏、岷江冷杉凋落物中的N元素则表现为释放—富集模式; 凋落物P元素总体表现为释放模式, 但4种植物凋落物均在生长季节中期具有明显的富集过程; 从凋落物分解的第一年来看, 土壤动物明显促进了4种植物凋落物N的释放, 而抑制了P的释放; 不同时期土壤动物对凋落物中N和P释放量的影响存在显著差异, 且分别与正积温呈极显著正相关和极显著负相关关系; 相对于阔叶植物凋落物, 土壤动物对针叶植物凋落物中N和P元素动态的影响更为显著。这些结果为深入了解高寒森林生态系统土壤动物与凋落物分解等物质循环过程的相互联系具有重要意义。     

间歇性溪流米槠凋落叶分解过程胞外酶活性动态

以米槠(Castanopsis carlesii)凋落叶为研究对象,于2021年4—7月,对照森林地表和持续流水的溪流,研究间歇性溪流凋落叶分解过程中胞外酶活性变化规律。结果表明：(1)间歇性溪流凋落叶分解过程中酸性磷酸酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶、β-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶和脲酶活性总体高于地表,低于溪流。(2)通过分析胞外酶化学计量比和矢量特征,发现三种生境凋落叶分解过程中微生物群落受碳和磷的共同限制。分解初期,间歇性溪流凋落叶分解过程中微生物群落相对碳限制程度高于其他两个生境,但相对磷限制低于地表,高于溪流;随着分解的进行,间歇性溪流凋落叶分解过程中微生物群落相对磷限制程度逐渐减弱,相对碳限制程度逐渐加强。(3)统计分析表明,间歇性溪流中大气温度是凋落叶分解过程中胞外酶活性的主控因子,而地表凋落叶分解过程中胞外酶活性与大气温度、地表温度和土壤含水量关系更为密切,溪流凋落叶分解过程中胞外酶活性主要受水体温度、溪流深度和气温等因子的影响。研究结果为全面认识亚热带森林生态系统物质迁移与循环过程提供了新思路和科学依据。     

亚高山森林林窗大小对凋落叶木质素降解的影响

木质素降解是认识高寒森林凋落物分解过程的关键环节,可能受到林窗大小及其在不同季节水热环境的影响。采用分解袋法,研究了川西亚高山森林不同面积大小林窗下红桦(Betula albo-sinensis)和岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)凋落叶在初冻期、深冻期、融化期、生长季节初期、生长季节中期和生长季节后期的木质素分解动态特征。研究结果表明,采样时间和林窗面积大小对两种凋落叶的木质素降解均有显著影响。经历1a分解,红桦凋落叶的木质素降解了21.53%—27.65%,而岷江冷杉凋落叶的木质素富集了7.95%—19.40%。较大林窗促进了冬季岷江冷杉凋落叶和生长季节红桦凋落叶木质素的降解,抑制了冬季红桦凋落叶木质素的降解;而生长季节岷江冷杉凋落叶木质素富集速率则为林下大林窗中林窗小林窗。逐步回归分析表明,凋落叶木质素的降解过程在冬季主要受到负积温和土壤冻融循环次数的影响(木质素结构的物理破碎),而在生长季节则主要受到平均温度和正积温的影响(木质素的生物降解)。可见,川西亚高山森林木质素降解受林窗格局变化的显著影响,且林窗大小对凋落叶木质素降解的影响与物种和分解时期有关。     

季节性雪被对天山雪岭云杉凋落叶分解和碳氮磷释放的影响

季节性雪被下显著的冻融格局差异可能对干旱区山地森林凋落叶分解过程产生重要影响, 但一直未见深入研究。2015年10月至2016年10月, 采用凋落物分解袋法, 研究了天山典型树种雪岭云杉(Picea schrenkiana)凋落叶在季节性雪被覆盖下的3个关键时期(冻融期、深冻期、融冻期)以及生长季(生长季早期和生长季末期)的分解动态和碳、氮、磷释放特征。结果表明: (1)经过一年的分解, 不同雪被厚度下雪岭云杉凋落叶分解率为24.6%-29.2%, 且存在显著性差异。分解系数k值厚雪被覆盖最大, 无雪被覆盖最小。(2)冬季雪被覆盖期雪岭云杉凋落叶分解对当年分解总量的贡献达46.0%- 48.5%, 其中对冻融期凋落叶分解影响较为明显。(3)随着凋落叶的分解, 雪岭云杉凋落叶氮含量总体呈增加趋势; 碳含量和碳氮比大致呈下降趋势, 在深冻期和生长季末期不同雪被处理下碳含量呈显著性差异; 而凋落叶磷含量呈不规则变化趋势, 且在冻融期和融冻期不同雪被厚度下呈显著性差异。(4)整个雪被覆盖季节凋落叶氮元素表现为富集, 碳和磷元素表现为释放; 其中, 在融冻期薄雪被和中雪被处理下碳元素富集率最大, 在冻融期薄雪被、中雪被和厚雪被处理下, 融冻期无雪被和厚雪被下以及生长季早期中雪被和厚雪被下氮元素富集率最大, 而雪被对凋落叶磷释放的影响不显著。     

Effects of seasonal snow cover on decomposition and carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus release of Picea schrenkiana leaf litter in Mt. Tianshan,Northwest China

季节性雪被下显著的冻融格局差异可能对干旱区山地森林凋落叶分解过程产生重要影响, 但一直未见深入研究。2015年10月至2016年10月, 采用凋落物分解袋法, 研究了天山典型树种雪岭云杉(Picea schrenkiana)凋落叶在季节性雪被覆盖下的3个关键时期(冻融期、深冻期、融冻期)以及生长季(生长季早期和生长季末期)的分解动态和碳、氮、磷释放特征。结果表明: (1)经过一年的分解, 不同雪被厚度下雪岭云杉凋落叶分解率为24.6%-29.2%, 且存在显著性差异。分解系数k值厚雪被覆盖最大, 无雪被覆盖最小。(2)冬季雪被覆盖期雪岭云杉凋落叶分解对当年分解总量的贡献达46.0%- 48.5%, 其中对冻融期凋落叶分解影响较为明显。(3)随着凋落叶的分解, 雪岭云杉凋落叶氮含量总体呈增加趋势; 碳含量和碳氮比大致呈下降趋势, 在深冻期和生长季末期不同雪被处理下碳含量呈显著性差异; 而凋落叶磷含量呈不规则变化趋势, 且在冻融期和融冻期不同雪被厚度下呈显著性差异。(4)整个雪被覆盖季节凋落叶氮元素表现为富集, 碳和磷元素表现为释放; 其中, 在融冻期薄雪被和中雪被处理下碳元素富集率最大, 在冻融期薄雪被、中雪被和厚雪被处理下, 融冻期无雪被和厚雪被下以及生长季早期中雪被和厚雪被下氮元素富集率最大, 而雪被对凋落叶磷释放的影响不显著。     

雪被去除减缓岷江冷杉凋落叶易分解碳释放

气候变化已经并将持续改变寒冷生物区季节性雪被厚度和覆盖时间,雪被厚度的减少可能影响高山森林凋落物分解,尤其是其早期分解过程中易分解碳的释放。该文研究了川西高山森林雪被去除处理后优势树种岷江冷杉(Abiesfargesii var.faxoniana)凋落叶总有机碳、热水/冷水可溶性有机碳、非结构性碳(可溶性糖、淀粉)在冬季(雪被形成期、覆盖期、融化期)和生长季(初期、中期、后期)的释放规律。结果表明:(1)经过一年的分解,对照和雪被去除处理的凋落叶质量残留量分别为76.4%和86.2%,总有机碳残留量分别为60.5%和74.8%。(2)经过一个冬季分解后,雪被去除处理降低了凋落叶热水溶性有机碳和可溶性糖的释放,而增加了总有机碳、可溶性有机碳、非结构性碳和淀粉的富集。(3)经过生长季分解后,雪被去除处理降低了凋落叶易分解碳释放,其中总有机碳、热水溶性有机碳、可溶性有机碳、非结构性碳、可溶性糖和淀粉的释放分别降低了36.3%、0.8%、43.7%、28.3%、21.7%和33.7%。偏最小二乘法分析表明,岷江冷杉凋落叶易分解碳释放受土壤冻融循环次数、脲酶活性、土壤温度和可溶性有机碳含量影响...     

Effects of streams on lignin degradation during foliar litter decomposition in an alpine forest

AimsStreams are widely distributed in alpine forests, and litter decomposition in which is an important component of material cycling across the forest landscape. The leaching and fragmenting effects as well as the unique environmental factors in streams may have significant impacts on lignin degradation during litter decomposition, but studies on this are lacking.
Methods Using litterbag methods, we investigated the dynamics of lignin mass remaining and concentration (percent litter mass, %) during the decomposition of four foliar litters, which varied significantly in the initial litter chemical traits, from the dominant species of Salix paraplesia, Rhododendron lapponicum, Sabina saltuaria, and Larix mastersiana under different habitats (forest floor, stream, and riparian zone) in the upper reaches of the Minjiang River.
Important findings After two year’s incubation, litter lignin mass remaining for a specific litter species varied significantly (p < 0.05) among habitats, with an order of stream < riparian zone < forest floor. Lignin was degraded substantially in the early stage of litter decomposition process, and the lignin concentration first decreased and then increased with the proceeding of litter decomposition, but varied significantly (p < 0.05) among different litter species. Lignin mass showed a general trend of decrease across the 2-year decomposition course. In addition, habitat type, decomposition period and microenvironmental factors (e.g., temperature, pH value and nutrient availability) showed substantial influences on lignin degradation rate. These results suggest that the traditional view that lignin was relatively recalcitrant with an increase of concentration in the early stage of litter decomposition is challenged, but the loss of lignin in the early phrase is in line with recent findings about the fate of lignin during litter decomposition. Moreover, the significant differences of lignin degradation rates among different decomposition period and habitat types indicated that local-scale environmental factors can play a significant role in litter decomposition and lignin degradation processes.     

高山林线交错带高山杜鹃的凋落物分解

凋落物分解是维持生态系统生产力、养分循环、土壤有机质形成的关键生态过程。高山林线交错带是陆地生态系统中对气候变化响应的敏感区域。季节变化和海拔梯度上的植被类型差异可能会影响该区域凋落物的分解,进而对高山生态系统的碳氮循环产生重要影响。采用凋落物分解袋的方法,研究了川西高山林线交错带优势种高山杜鹃(Rhododendron lapponicum)凋落叶在雪被期和生长季的分解特征。结果显示:(1)季节变化和植被类型对高山杜鹃凋落物的分解均具有显著影响(P0.05),凋落叶的质量损失主要发生在生长季且在高山林线最大,暗针叶林中雪被期的质量损失略高于生长季,但差异不显著;(2)林线交错带上高山杜鹃凋落叶分解缓慢,一年干物质失重率为9.62%,拟合分解系数k为0.145;(3)高山杜鹃凋落叶的质量变化主要体现在纤维素降解显著且集中在雪被期,木质素无明显降解,在高山林线上C/N、C/P、木质素/N变化幅度较小且C、N、P的释放表现得稳定而持续。结果表明,季节性雪被对林线交错带内高山杜鹃分解的影响不仅局限在雪被期内,雪被融化期间频繁的冻融作用和雪融水淋洗作用可能会促进高山杜鹃凋落物在生长季初期的分解。总的来看,在气候变暖的情景下,雪被的缩减、生长季的延长和高山杜鹃群落的扩张可能加速高山林线交错带高山杜鹃凋落物的分解。     

Organic Matter Dynamics in a Tropical Gallery Forest in a Grassland Landscape

The high biodiversity of tropical forest streams depends on the strong input of organic matter, yet the leaf litter decomposition dynamics in these streams are not well understood. We assessed how seasonal litterfall affects leaf litter breakdown, density and biomass of aquatic invertebrates, and the microbial biomass and sporulation of aquatic hyphomycetes in a South American grassland ‘vereda’ landscape. Although litter production in the riparian area was low, leaf litter breakdown was high compared with other South American systems, with maximum values coinciding with the rainy season. Fungal biomass in decomposing leaves was high, but spore densities in water and sporulation rates were very low. Invertebrates were not abundant in litter bags, suggesting they play a minor role in leaf litter decomposition. Chironomids accounted for ~70 percent of all invertebrates; only 10 percent of non‐Chironomidae invertebrates were shredders. Therefore, fungi appear to be the drivers of leaf litter decomposition. Our results show that despite low productivity and relatively fast litter decomposition, organic matter accumulated in the stream and riparian area. This pattern was attributed to the wet/dry cycles in which leaves falling in the flat riparian zone remain undecomposed (during the dry period) and are massively transported to the riverbed (rainy season).     

雪被斑块对高山森林两种灌木凋落叶质量损失的影响

高山/亚高山森林灌木层植物凋落物的分解对于系统物质循环等过程具有重要意义, 并可能受到冬季不同厚度雪被斑块下冻融格局的影响。该文采用凋落物分解袋法, 研究了高山森林典型灌层植物华西箭竹(Fargesia nitida)和康定柳(Salix paraplesia)凋落物在沿林窗-林下形成的冬季雪被厚度梯度(厚型雪被斑块、较厚型雪被斑块、中型雪被斑块、薄型雪被斑块、无雪被斑块)上在第一年不同关键时期(冻结初期、冻结期、融化期、生长季节初期和生长季节后期)的质量损失特征。在整个冻融季节, 华西箭竹和康定柳凋落叶的平均质量损失分别占全年的(48.78 ± 2.35)%和(46.60 ± 5.02)%。冻融季节雪被覆盖斑块下凋落叶的失重率表现出厚型雪被斑块大于薄型雪被斑块的趋势,而生长季节无雪被斑块的失重率明显较高。尽管如此, 华西箭竹凋落物第一年分解表现出随冬季雪被厚度增加而增加的趋势, 但康定柳凋落物第一年失重率以薄型雪被斑块最高, 而无雪被斑块最低。同时, 相关分析表明冻融季节凋落叶的失重率与平均温度和负积温呈极显著正相关, 生长季节凋落叶的失重率与所调查的温度因子并无显著相关关系, 但全年凋落物失重率与平均温度和正/负积温均显著相关。这些结果清晰地表明, 未来冬季变暖情境下高山森林冬季雪被格局的改变将显著影响灌层植物凋落物分解, 影响趋势随着物种的差异具有明显差异。     

Community composition and diversity of riparian forests regulate decomposition of leaf litter in stream ecosystems

Riparian forest plantings are a well‐established restoration technique commonly used to stabilize banks and intercept nutrient flow from adjacent agricultural fields. Tree species planted for these efforts may not reflect mature forest communities within the same region. Given contemporary research on links between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, we conducted a leaf‐litter decomposition study to investigate how mixing of detrital resources that reflect forest community composition would regulate in‐stream leaf litter. Leaf litter bags containing material from a mature forest (Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer rubrum, Quercus rubra, full factorial treatments = 7) and a restored riparian forest (Cornus sericea, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Platanus occidentalis, full factorial treatments = 7) were deployed in a stream reach that experienced riparian reforestation in 2004. Litter from the restored riparian community had less mass remaining (45.28 ± 2.27%) than that from the mature riparian community (54.95 ± 2.19%) after 5 weeks. In addition, mixed litter treatments in the restored riparian community had less mass remaining (40.54 ± 2.37%) than single‐species treatments (51.80 ± 4.05%), a pattern not observed in the mature forest community. Results highlight the importance of planting mixed‐species assemblages as this structure may regulate processes such as decomposition and food‐web structure, processes often not targeted in the restoration plans.     

高山森林凋落物分解过程中的微生物生物量动态

凋落物分解过程中的微生物生物量动态对于深入了解森林凋落物分解机理具有重要意义。为了解高山森林典型树种凋落物分解过程中的微生物生物量特征,采用凋落物分解袋法,研究了土壤冻结期(3月)、融冻期(4月-5月)、生长季节(5-10月)和冻结初期(11月)红桦(Betula albosinensi)、岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)和粗枝云杉(Picea asperata)凋落物分解过程的微生物生物量C(MBC)、微生物生物量N(MBN)和微生物生物量P(MBP)动态。四个关键时期,凋落物的MBC、MBN以生长季节最高,但非生长季节的三个关键时期也检测出较高的MBC、MBN。在融冻期结束后,三类凋落物分解过程中MBC和MBN均出现爆发性增长。然而,MBP在生长季节中期(8月)、完全冻结期(3月)和冻结初期(11月)均相对较低,但在融冻期和生长季节后期(9月)相对较高。另外,红桦凋落物的MBC、MBN和MBP含量均高于岷江冷杉和粗枝云杉凋落物(除4月粗枝云杉凋落物MBP异常升高外)。这些结果为更加清晰地认识高寒森林凋落物分解过程及机理,以及进一步理解陆地生态系统结构和功能提供了一定基础数据。     

Abundance and Leaf Damage Caused by Gall‐Inducing Insects in a Mexican Tropical Dry Forest1

We evaluated the temporal and spatial patterns of abundance and the amount of damage caused by gall‐inducing insects (GII) in deciduous and riparian habitats in a seasonal tropical dry forest in Mexico. Plants occurring in these habitats differ in their phenology and moisture availability. Deciduous habitats are seasonal and xeric, while riparian habitats are aseasonal and mesic. We found 37 GII species and each one was associated with a specific plant species. In total, 19 species (51.3%) were present in deciduous habitats, 13 species (35.2%) in riparian habitats, and only 5 species (13.5%) occurred in both. Abundance and leaf damage by GII were greater in deciduous than in riparian habitats during the wet season. For each GII species that occurred in both habitats, host plant species supported greater abundance and leaf damage by GII in deciduous habitats during the wet season. These results indicate a greater association of GII species with host plants in deciduous than in riparian habitats during the wet season. In riparian habitats, 11 plant species (61.1%) had greater density of GII in the dry than in the wet season. Similarly, leaf damage by GII was significantly greater in the dry than in the wet season in riparian habitats for 12 plant species (66.7%). Dry forest plants of riparian habitats presented two peaks of leaf‐flushing: GII colonized leaves produced in the first peak at the beginning of the wet season, and accumulated or recolonized leaves in the second peak at the beginning of the dry season. The levels of leaf damage by GII detected in this study in the rainy season were considerably higher than those obtained for folivorous insects in other neotropical forests, suggesting that this GII guild might have an important impact on their host plant species in this tropical community.     

Decomposition and nitrogen release from the foliage litter of fir (Abies sachalinensis) and oak (Quercus crispula) under different forest canopies in Hokkaido, Japan

When two tree species co-occur, decomposition and nitrogen (N) release from the foliage litter depend on two factors: the forest floor conditions under each canopy type and the species composition of the litter. We conducted an experiment using fir and oak to answer several questions regarding decomposition beneath canopies of the two species and the effects of litter species composition on decomposition. We compared the rates of decomposition and N release from three different litters (fir needle, oak leaf, and a mixture of the two) in 1-mm-mesh litterbags on the forest floor under three different canopies (a 40-year-old fir plantation, large oak trees, and mixed fir and oak trees) in Hokkaido, Japan, over a 2-year period. Beneath each of these canopy types, the litter decomposition rate and percentage of N remaining in the litterbags containing a mixture of fir and oak litter were not significantly different from the expected values calculated for litterbags containing litter from a single tree species. Oak leaf litter decomposed significantly faster than fir needle litter beneath each canopy type. The litter decomposition rate was significantly higher beneath the fir canopy than under the oak canopy, and was intermediate under the mixed canopy of fir and oak. No net N release, that is, a decrease in the total N compared to the original amount, was detected from fir litter under each canopy type or from oak leaf litter beneath the oak canopy. N increased over the original amount in the fir litter beneath the oak canopy and the mixed canopy of fir and oak, but N was released from the oak litter under the fir canopy and the mixed canopy of fir and oak. These results suggest that oak leaf litter blown onto fir forest floor enhances nutrient cycling, and this might be a positive effect of a mixed stand of conifer and broad-leaved trees.