模拟增温对湿地植物凋落物分解及细菌群落的影响

植物凋落物分解是湿地生态系统物质循环的重要组成部分,随着全球气候变化的逐渐加剧,气候变暖对湿地植物凋落物分解的影响已引起人们的广泛关注。本研究通过凋落物袋法对比研究了山东省南四湖湿地中芦苇和香蒲两种典型湿地植物的凋落物分解过程,利用开顶式生长室(Open-top Chamber, OTC)模拟了大气增温(2.0±0.5)℃—(4.0±0.5)℃对凋落物分解特征和细菌群落的影响。结果显示,增温显著加速了两种植物凋落物的分解速率,而木质素/氮(Lignin/N)、纤维素/氮(Cellulose/N)是影响凋落物分解速率的重要因子,与分解速率呈显著负相关。增温显著增加了细菌群落的丰度和多样性,碳是厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)等细菌丰度变化的驱动因子,而木质素、木质素/氮是拟杆菌门(Bacteroidota)等细菌丰度变化的驱动因子。细菌群落共现网络显示,在增温条件下,凋落物分解的细菌群落网络主要由共生关系组成。气候变暖提高了细菌之间的相互关系和互惠程度,加快了植物凋落物的分解进程,进而影响了湿地生态系统的碳收支平衡。     

模拟增温和不同凋落物基质质量对凋落物分解速率的影响

采用凋落物分解袋法,研究了在土壤、水分相当的条件下模拟增温对红松(Pinus koraiensis)、蒙古栎(Quercus mongolica)及其混合凋落物分解的影响,以及在不同温度水平下,不同凋落物质量(两种单一凋落物和混合凋落物)的分解特性。利用碱式吸收法测量了凋落物分解累积释放CO₂动态。将N浓度和C/N率作为凋落物质量参数,用呼吸产生CO₂的积累值和凋落物质量损失率确定凋落物分解率。结果表明温度升高对单一凋落物和混合凋落物分解均有促进作用,在不同温度水平上,不同质量凋落物的分解特性有所差别,25 ℃和29 ℃条件下混合凋落物分解速率>蒙古栎单一凋落物>红松单一凋落物分解速率。然而,在31 ℃条件下混合凋落物与蒙古栎单一凋落物分解速率相差不大,二者均大于红松单一凋落物分解速率。     

山地森林表层土壤酶活性对短期增温及凋落物分解的响应

为了探究贡嘎山地区暗针叶林表层土壤酶活性对增温及凋落物分解的响应,采用开顶式生长箱(open top chamber)和加热电缆(OTC-cable)联合增温的方式模拟增温,同时定位监测实验小区地表空气、表层土壤温湿度的变化;不同类型(A:75%峨眉冷杉针叶+25%杜鹃荚蒾灌木叶凋落物,B:55%峨眉冷杉针叶+45%杜鹃荚蒾灌木叶凋落物)凋落物在模拟增温和自然对照条件下分解4年,研究土壤过氧化氢酶、多酚氧化酶和脲酶活性的变化。结果表明:增温使得地表空气和表层土壤温度分别增加了2.84℃和1.83℃;使得空气相对湿度和土壤含水量分别降低了5.27%和1.55%。针叶比例高会抑制凋落物分解,约13%;增温促进凋落物分解且对针叶比例高的促进作用更加明显,增幅均超过10%。增温总体上降低了土壤过氧化氢酶和脲酶活性,而对多酚氧化酶活性的影响表现为增大。针叶比例降低的凋落物分解对3种土壤酶活性的影响大致趋势是增大,幅度在15%以上。增温和凋落物类型之间的交互作用显著。随着土壤深度增加,土壤过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶活性增大,而脲酶活性降低。增温和不同类型凋落物分解对表层土壤酸碱性无显著作用。在土壤含水量较低的情况下,土壤水分对酶活性影响较大。贡嘎山峨眉冷杉林表层土壤酶对温度的敏感性不仅因酶类型、土壤深度而存在差异,也随增温时间、土壤水分条件而有所不同。     

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.     

模拟增温及分解界面对茭草凋落物分解速率及叶际微生物结构和功能的影响

挺水植物的凋落物是湿地生态系统物质循环的重要组成部分, 阐明气候变暖以及生境差异对湿地挺水植物凋落物分解过程及叶际微生物的影响对揭示湿地生态系统关键物质循环过程具有重要意义。该研究以滇西北高原典型湿地优势挺水植物茭草(Zizania latifolia)为研究对象, 采用凋落物袋法研究了茭草在模拟增温(1.5-2.0 ℃)及不同生境(大气界面、水界面与土界面)下的质量残留率和叶际微生物数量、结构组成与功能代谢特征。研究发现: 模拟气候变暖及生境差异均显著影响凋落物的分解速率。经过一年的分解, 凋落物在模拟增温环境下的质量残留率为66.4%, 对照组的质量残留率为77.7%, 增温组分解常数(k)值是对照组的1.64倍, 而凋落物在水界面与土界面的质量残留率为42.2%和25.3%, 其k值分别为大气界面的3.63和5.25倍, 生境差异是影响湿地挺水植物凋落物分解速率的关键因素。模拟增温主要改变了凋落物叶际微生物的群落组成特征, 而生境变化主要影响叶际微生物的绝对数量、微生物多样性、群落结构组成以及功能代谢活性。处于土界面的凋落物叶际微生物具有最高的群落功能代谢活性及醇类碳源利用程度。不同处理之间的植物叶际微生物特征与凋落物分解速率具有较好的一致性, 为揭示湿地植物凋落物分解快慢的微生物驱动机制提供了重要的理论依据。     

黄土高原不同植物凋落物的分解特性

以黄土高原区典型植物刺槐、小叶杨、沙棘、沙柳、苜蓿和长芒草的凋落物为对象,采用网袋法研究了半干旱区(神木)分解过程中,单种、两种及3种凋落物等质量配比混合后其质量、碳和氮的动态变化.结果表明:在整个分解过程中,不同处理凋落物的质量损失率,全碳、全氮的释放速率以及可溶性有机碳和可溶性总氮的含量均表现为前期大于后期,经过412d的分解,3种凋落物混合后的平均质量损失率高于两种混合凋落物,单种凋落物最低.到分解试验结束时,不同处理凋落物的全碳、全氮平均释放率均表现为单种＞两种混合＞3种混合;而不同处理的可溶性有机碳平均含量表现为两种混合＞单种＞3种混合,但未达到显著水平;可溶性总氮含量则为3种混合＞两种混合＞单种,达到显著水平.凋落物的质量损失率与可溶性有机物,特别是可溶性有机碳具有一定的相关性.从质量损失率来看,小叶杨、沙棘与苜蓿凋落物的组合为最佳组合.建议在黄土高原区退耕还林还草工程建设中,合理增加植物种类多样性,促进土壤改善养分状况.     

植物凋落物影响土壤有机质分解的研究进展

植物凋落物是土壤动物和土壤微生物的主要生命物质和能量来源,其类型、组成以及物理化学等性质直接决定了土壤有机质的品质。对植物凋落物的类型、品质、物理性质、层效应和激发效应以及根际碳淀积与土壤有机质分解的关系进行了总结,可为研究植物凋落物对土壤有机质的影响提供理论参考,指出要在全球变暖背景下进一步加强凋落物分解过程中土壤微生物和酶活性变化的研究。     

凋落物分解对土壤生物的影响

凋落物分解是生态系统物质循环和能量流动的重要环节,而土壤生物是凋落物分解的主要完成者.大量研究分析了土壤生物在凋落物分解中的作用,然而有关凋落物分解对土壤生物影响的研究则相对较少,致使我们对凋落物分解和土壤生物的相互作用了解依然不够深入.本文综述了凋落物对土壤微生物和土壤动物的影响,并进一步探讨了其影响机制.凋落物对土壤微生物的影响与凋落物类型或组成、在土壤中的掩埋位置及其破碎化程度紧密相关;大多数研究表明凋落物对土壤动物群落结构有明显影响;凋落物对土壤生物的影响主要通过直接改变土壤生物的食源和生境.今后需要加强跨区域长期定位实验研究,注重整合研究凋落物分解和生态系统过程,深入研究凋落物分解与土壤生物的相互作用机制.     

凋落物多样性及组成对凋落物分解和土壤微生物群落的影响

凋落物分解是生态系统营养物质循环的核心过程,而土壤微生物群落在凋落物分解过程中扮演着极其重要且不可替代的角色。随着生物多样性的丧失日益严峻,探讨凋落物多样性及组成对凋落物分解和土壤微生物群落的影响,不仅有助于了解凋落物分解的内在机制,而且可为退化草原生态系统的恢复提供参考。以内蒙古呼伦贝尔草原退化恢复群落中的草本植物为研究对象,依据植物多度、盖度、频度和物种的重要值及其在群落中的恢复程度筛选出排序前4的羊草（Leymus chinensis）、茵陈蒿（Artemisia capillaris）、麻花头（Serratula centauroides）、二裂委陵菜（Potentilla bifurca）的凋落物为实验材料,通过设置3种凋落物多样性水平（1,2,4）,包括11种凋落物组合（单物种凋落物共4种,两物种凋落物混合共6种,四物种凋落物混合共1种）,利用磷脂脂肪酸（PLFA）方法来研究分解60 d后凋落物多样性及组成对凋落物分解和土壤微生物群落的影响。结果表明：（1）凋落物物种多样性仅对C残余率具有显著影响,表现在两物种混合凋落物C残余率显著低于单物种凋落物,而凋落物组成对所观测的4个凋落物分解参数（质量、C、N残余率以及C/N）均具有显著影响;（2）凋落物物种多样性对细菌（B）含量具有显著影响,而凋落物组成对真菌（F）含量具有显著影响,两者对F/B以及微生物总量均无显著影响;（3）冗余分析结果表明凋落物组成与凋落物分解相关指标（凋落物质量、C、N残余率及C/N）和土壤微生物（真菌、细菌含量）的相关关系高于凋落物多样性。（4）进一步建立结构方程模型（Structural Equation Model,SEM）发现,凋落物初始C含量对凋落物质量、C、N残余率及C/N有显著正的直接影响;凋落物木质素含量对凋落物质量、C、N残余率有显著正的直接影响;凋落物初始N含量对N残余率有显著正的直接影响,而对C残余率及C/N有显著负的直接影响;凋落物初始C/N对凋落物质量、N残余率有显著正的直接影响,而对C/N有显著负的直接影响。此外,凋落物初始C、N、木质素含量及C/N均对真菌含量具有显著正影响,并可通过真菌对凋落物质量分解产生显著负的间接影响。以上结果表明该退化恢复区域优势种凋落物分解以初始C、木质素为主导,主要通过土壤真菌影响凋落物的分解进程,这将减缓凋落物的分解速率进而减慢草原生态系统的进程。这些结果为凋落物多样性及组成对自身分解和土壤微生物群落的影响提供了实验依据,也为进一步分析凋落物分解内在机制以及草原生态系统的恢复提供了数据参考。     

土壤动物对川西高山/亚高山森林凋落物分解的贡献

采用凋落物分解袋法,研究了土壤动物对川西高山/亚高山森林代表性植物康定柳、方枝柏、红桦和岷江冷杉凋落物在分解第一年(2011年11月-2012年10月)不同关键时期质量损失的贡献.结果表明: 在凋落物第一年的分解过程中, 不同物种凋落物的分解速率大小依次为康定柳＞红桦＞岷江冷杉＞方枝柏,且均为生长季节大于冻融季节.土壤动物对凋落物分解的贡献率(P_fau)为方枝柏(26.7%)＞岷江冷杉(18.8%)＞红桦(15.7%)＞康定柳(13.2%),其中康定柳和方枝柏的P_fau在生长季节大于冻融季节,而红桦和岷江冷杉的P_fau为冻融季节大于生长季节.冻融季节土壤动物的作用与凋落物初始C、P和N/P显著相关,而生长季节则与N、C/N、木质素、木质素/纤维素显著相关.     

Long‐term responses of leaf litter decomposition to temperature,litter quality and litter mixing in plateau wetlands

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Will rising atmospheric CO2 affect leaf litter quality and in situ decomposition rates in native plant communities?

Though field data for naturally senesced leaf litter are rare, it is commonly assumed that rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations will reduce leaf litter quality and decomposition rates in terrestrial ecosystems and that this will lead to decreased rates of nutrient cycling and increased carbon sequestration in native ecosystems. We generally found that the quality of␣naturally senesced leaf litter (i.e. concentrations of C, N and lignin; C:N, lignin:N) of a variety of native plant species produced in alpine, temperate and tropical communities maintained at elevated CO₂ (600–680 μl l⁻¹) was not significantly different from that produced in similar communities maintained at current ambient CO₂ concentrations (340–355 μl l⁻¹). When this litter was allowed to decompose in situ in a humid tropical forest in Panama (Cecropia peltata, Elettaria cardamomum, and Ficus benjamina, 130 days exposure) and in a lowland temperate calcareous grassland in Switzerland (Carex flacca and a graminoid species mixture; 261 days exposure), decomposition rates of litter produced under ambient and elevated CO₂ did not differ significantly. The one exception to this pattern occurred in the high alpine sedge, Carex curvula, growing in the Swiss Alps. Decomposition of litter produced in situ under elevated CO₂ was significantly slower than that of litter produced under ambient CO₂ (14% vs. 21% of the initial litter mass had decomposed over a 61-day exposure period, respectively). Overall, our results indicate that relatively little or no change in leaf litter quality can be expected in plant communities growing under soil fertilities common in many native ecosystems as atmospheric CO₂ concentrations continue to rise. Even in situations where small reductions in litter quality do occur, these may not necessarily lead to significantly slower rates of decomposition. Hence in many native species in situ litter decomposition rates, and the time course of decomposition, may remain relatively unaffected by rising CO₂. Received: 12 September 1996 / Accepted: 30 November 1996     

Leaf litter decomposition in a southern Sonoran Desert ecosystem, northwestern Mexico: Effects of habitat and litter quality

Leaf litter decomposition of dominant woody perennial species in the three most common habitats of the southern Sonoran Desert was studied using the litter-bag method. Our objective was to assess the influence of litter quality on decomposition rates in three contrasting desert environments. The hypotheses were: (1) decomposition rates within the same litter type are faster in more mesic habitats, (2) decomposition rates are lower in higher lignin content or lower nutrient quality substrates, and (3) species-rich substrates enhance decomposition rates. For all litter types and habitats, a rapid loss of mass occurred during the summer rains at the start of the experiment, but total loss within the same litter type differed significantly among habitats. Decay rates were not higher in the more mesic habitat, but in the dry plains where solar irradiance and termite activity were highest. While termite activity was less important in the arroyos and absent in the hillsides habitats, proliferation of fungal mycelium in these sites was much higher than in the plains, suggesting that biotic and abiotic factors act both independently of litter richness. Lignin content seems to be an important factor controlling the loss of litter, because decay rates were inversely related to litter initial lignin content in all three habitats. Leaf litter diversity did not enhance rates of decomposition. The leaf litter mixture had k-values similar to the most recalcitrant monospecific litter in all three habitats, indicating a neutral or even antagonistic role of species-specific compounds in decomposition rates.     

Root exudate components change litter decomposition in a simulated rhizosphere depending on temperature

The release of root exudates into the rhizosphere is known to enhance soil biological activity and alter microbial community structure. To assess whether root exudates also stimulated litter decomposition, in a rhizosphere model system we continuously injected solutions of glucose, malate or glutamate through porous Rhizon^® soil solution samplers into the soil at rhizosphere concentrations. The effect of these substances on the decomposition of ¹⁴C-labelled Lolium perenne shoot residues present in the soil was evaluated by monitoring ¹⁴CO₂ evolution at either 15°C or 25°C. The incorporation of the ¹⁴C into the microbial biomass and appearance in the dissolved organic matter (DOM) pool was estimated after 32 d incubation. The presence of malate and glutamate increased the mineralization of L. perenne residues by approximately 20% relative to the soil without their addition at 15°C, however, no significant effects on residue decomposition were observed at 25°C. The incorporation of the ¹⁴C-label into the microbial biomass and DOM pool was not affected by the addition of either glucose, malate or glutamate. Although nearly the same amount of L. perenne residues were mineralized at either temperature after 32 d, less ¹⁴C was recovered in the microbial biomass and DOM pools at 25°C compared to 15°C. Alongside other results, this suggests that the rate of microbial turnover is greater at 25°C compared to 15°C. We conclude that the addition of labile root exudate components to the rhizosphere induced a small but significant increase on litter decomposition but that the magnitude of this effect was regulated by temperature.     

Consequences of the reduction of plant diversity for litter decomposition: effects through litter quality and microenvironment

Decomposition of plant litter is a key process for the flow of energy and nutrients in ecosystems that may be sensitive to the loss of biodiversity. Two hypothetical mechanisms by which changes in plant diversity could affect litter decomposition are (1) through changes in litter species composition, and (2) by altering the decomposition microenvironment. We tested these ideas in relation to the short-term decomposition of herbaceous plant litter in experimental plant assemblages that differed in the numbers and types of plant species and functional groups that they contained to simulate loss of plant diversity. We used different litterbag experiments to separate the two potential pathways through which diversity could have an effect on decomposition. Our two litterbag trials showed that altering plant diversity affected litter breakdown differently through changes in decomposition microenvironment than through changes in litter composition. In the decomposition microenvironment experiment there was a significant but weak decline in decomposition rate in relation to decreasing plant diversity but no significant effect of plant composition. The litter composition experiment showed no effect of richness but significant effects of composition, including large differences between plant species and functional groups in litter chemistry and decomposition rate. However, for a nested subset of our litter mixtures decomposition was not accurately predicted from single-species bags; there were positive, non-additive effects of litter mixing which enhanced decomposition. We critically assess the strengths and limitations of our short-term litterbag trials in predicting the longer-term effects of changes in plant diversity on litter decomposition rates.     

Nitrogen transfer in litter mixture enhances decomposition rate,temperature sensitivity,and C quality changes

Background and aims

Litter decomposition is a critical process in terrestrial ecosystems and, since in natural conditions plant litter occurs in mixtures, understanding the interactive effects of mixed litter is of great ecological relevance. In this context, we test the hypothesis that N transfer between high quality litter to N-poor substrates are at the base of synergistic interactions, positively affecting litter decay rate, temperature sensitivity, and changes of organic C quality.

Methods

We carried out a manipulative experiment using four organic substrates, encompassing a wide range of biochemical quality (Hedera helix and Quercus ilex leaf litter, cellulose strips and woody sticks), each decomposing either separately or in matched pair mixtures for 360 days. Organic substrates were characterized for mass loss, C and N content and by ¹³C CPMAS NMR to assess biochemical quality changes.

Results

Litter response to mixing was related to the biochemical quality of the components in the mixture: additive when substrates with similarly high (H. helix and Q. ilex) or low (cellulose and wood) N content were paired, but synergistic when substrates with contrasting N content were associated (either of the two leaf litters with either cellulose or wood). Overall, no antagonist effects were observed in this experiment. Interestingly, decomposition of cellulose and wood showed an higher temperature sensitivity, compared to monospecific substrates, when paired with N rich materials. Significant N transfer was found from N rich litter to N poor substrates and ¹³C CPMAS NMR showed rapid changes of C quality of cellulose and wood sticks only when paired with N rich litter.

Conclusions

Our findings support the hypothesis that mixing litters of different quality, with quality expressed in terms of C/N ratio and N content, increases decomposition rate and temperature sensitivity of the lower quality substrates.     

More food,less habitat: how necromass and leaf litter decomposition combine to regulate a litter ant community

1. In brown food webs of the forest floor, necromass (e.g. insect carcasses and frass) falling from the canopy feeds both microbes and ants, with the former decomposing the homes of the latter. In a tropical litter ant community, we added necromass to 1 m² plots, testing if it added as a net food (increasing ant colony growth and recruitment) or destroyer of habitat (by decomposing leaf litter). 2. Maximum, but not mean, colony growth rates were higher on +food plots. However, neither average colony size, nor density was higher on +food plots. In contrast, +food plots saw diminished availability of leaf litter and higher microbial decomposition of cellulose, a main component of the organic substrate that comprises litter habitat. 3. Furthermore, necromass acted as a limiting resource to the ant community only when nest sites were supplemented on +food plots in a second experiment. Many of these +food +nest plots were colonised by the weedy species Wasmannia auropunctata. 4. Combined, these results support the more food–less habitat hypothesis and highlight the importance of embedding studies of litter ant ecology within broader decomposer food web dynamics.