Macro- and micronutrient effects on decomposition of leaf litter from two tropical tree species: inferences from a short-term laboratory incubation

While a large number of studies have investigated the effects of macronutrients such as nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) on litter decomposition, recent studies suggest that micronutrients including zinc (Zn) may also limit decomposition rates. Our goal was to compare the effects of nutrient addition on decomposition of two leaf litter types from tropical dry forest trees in a short-term laboratory microcosm experiment. Single nutrients (N, P, Zn, potassium, magnesium, and nickel) were applied to leaf litter in solution at low or high concentrations (to mimic in situ availability or to alleviate nutrient limitation, respectively), and decomposition was assessed as final mass remaining and carbon dioxide mineralization. Both mass remaining and CO₂ mineralization were affected by nutrient identity and concentration, and these effects varied by species. In general, P and Zn addition increased decomposition, Mg and N inhibited it, and K and Ni had no significant effects. Future studies should consider the interactions between decomposition processes, decomposer communities, and a wider range of macro- and micronutrients.     

Litter and forest-floor dynamics in aPinus resinosa plantation in Wisconsin

Summary Breakdown of dry matter and release of nutrients from decomposing leaf litter and forest-floor material were measured in a 34-year-old red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) plantation in central Wisconsin using (1) leaf-litter bags (2) litterfall and forest-floor nutrient data and an exponential decay function, and (3) nutrient flux data and a mass balance equation. After one year of decomposition, 77% of the original dry matter in leaf-litter bags remained. The release of macronutrients in decomposing leaf litter was K>Mg>P, S>N>Ca, and the release of micronutrients and aluminum was Mn, B>Al>Cu>Zn. Nitrogen in decomposing leaf litter showed the leaching, accumulation, and final release phases delineated by Berg and Staff⁴. Half-lives of dry matter and nutrients in the forest floor ranged from 0.5 (K) to 39 (Al) yr. Forest-floor turnover rates of the various elements followed the same trends as in leaf-litter bags except that Ca turned over more readily than P, S, and N and Zn turned over more readily than the other micronutrients. A forest-floor nutrient balance sheet confirmed that the macronutrients N and Ca are accumulating most readily in the forest floor. The overall implications of these trends for tree nutrition are discussed.     

三峡库区森林凋落叶化学计量学性状变化及与分解速率的关系

凋落物分解是森林生态系统生物元素循环和能量流动的重要环节,其过程是植物与土壤获得养分的主要途径。为了量化凋落叶化学计量学性状变化过程对分解的影响及对凋落物-土壤生物化学连续体的深层理解,用凋落物分解袋法研究了不同林型各自凋落叶化学计量学性状变化及与分解速率关系,结果表明:林下各自凋落叶分解速率是马尾松林栓皮栎林马尾松-栓皮栎混交林,马尾松林、栓皮栎林、马尾松-栓皮栎混交林凋落叶分解50%和95%的时间分别是2.11 a和9.15 a,1.93 a和8.45 a,1.76 a和7.77 a;凋落叶分解过程中,化学计量学性状变化明显,分解450 d后马尾松-栓皮栎混交林碳释放最快,栓皮栎林最慢;3种凋落叶起始N含量是栓皮栎林最高,马尾松林最低,分解450 d后马尾松林、栓皮栎林和马尾松-栓皮栎混交林N含量分别增加了66.67%、44.91%和44.52%,而P含量分别释放了30.80%、38.89%和42.29%。凋落物不同化学计量学性状与分解速率关系不同,3种林型凋落叶分解速率均与N含量呈正相关(P0.01),与C含量(P0.01)、C/N比(P0.01)呈负相关,与N/P比呈负二次函数关系(P0.01),而P含量与3种林型关系不同,与栓皮栎林(P0.01)和马尾松林(P0.05)呈负线性关系,与马尾松-栓皮栎混交林呈负二次函数关系(P0.05)。研究表明,不同林型凋落叶分解中的养分动态趋向利于分解变化,N、P养分动态是生态系统碳平衡和凋落物分解速率的主要因素,混交林中混合凋落物的养分迁移是分解相对较快的原因。     

中国森林生态系统凋落叶分解速率的分布特征及其控制因子

凋落物分解是森林生态系统碳循环的重要组成部分。建立中国森林凋落叶分解速率数据库, 分析凋落叶分解速率与其主要影响因素之间的关系, 对精确地预测中国森林生态系统碳收支具有重要意义。该研究通过收集已报道的中国森林凋落叶分解常数(k)及其相关变量, 分析探讨地理因素(纬度、经度和海拔)、气候因素(年平均气温和年降水量)、凋落叶质量(氮、磷、钾、木质素、木质素:氮和碳氮比)和叶特性(常绿与落叶、阔叶与针叶)对中国森林凋落叶分解速率的影响。结果表明, 在国家尺度上, k随年平均气温、年降水量、氮、磷和钾的增加而增加, 随纬度、经度、海拔、碳氮比、木质素和木质素:氮的增大而减小, 叶特性对k的影响不显著。气候与地理因素(年平均气温、年降水量和纬度)能解释k值变异的34.1%, 凋落叶质量(氮、钾、木质素和木质素:氮)能解释k值变异的21.7%, 它们能共同解释k值变异的74.4%。了解森林凋落叶分解速率在国家尺度上的格局和主控因素可为中国森林生态系统碳循环相关模型提供基础参数。     

西藏东南部色季拉山主要类型森林叶片和枯落物养分含量特征

为阐明不同生长年限森林叶片和不同分解程度枯落物养分含量特征,为植物-土壤养分循环研究提供科学依据。以藏东南色季拉山几种典型森林植被(雪山杜鹃(Rhododendron aganniphum)、海拔4000 m和3900 m区域急尖长苞冷杉(Abies georgei var. smithii)、川滇高山栎(Quercus aquifolioides))为研究对象,分析了1年生和2年生植物叶片及不同分解程度枯落物有机碳(OC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)和全钾(TK)含量。结果表明:色季拉山森林叶片和枯落物OC含量表现为2年生叶片1年生叶片未分解枯落物(ND)半分解枯落物(SD)完全分解枯落物(CD),即老叶片以C积累为主,而枯落物OC含量随分解程度的增加而下降,叶片OC平均含量(68.5%)显著高于中国平均水平(45.5%);叶片N、P、K含量表现为1年生2年生,即新叶以N、P、K等营养物质的吸收积累为主。枯落物TN含量低于中国森林的平均水平(12.03 g/kg),而TP含量显著高于中国森林平均水平(0.74 g/kg),枯落物TN和TP以SD最高,即分解初期表现为净固定,而后期则呈净释放,TK含量随分解程度的增加而增加,表现为K的净固定;叶片C∶N,C∶P和C∶K表现为2年生1年生,枯落物C∶N,C∶P和C∶K随着分解程度的增加而显著降低;叶片N∶P处于较低水平(6.08),显著低于全球平均水平(16.0),表现出明显的N限制营养型;研究结果为科学阐明藏东南森林生态系统植被-土壤养分循环研究提供了数据支撑。     

森林凋落物分解重要影响因子及其研究进展

当前 ,森林凋落物分解被放在陆地生态系统碳平衡背景下进行研究 ,认识凋落物分解过程的影响因素和影响机理对理解地表碳平衡具有重要意义。凋落物在分解过程中 ,伴随有养分含量的变化 ,低品质凋落物在分解前期 (可达 2～ 3年 )会从环境中固定养分 ,特别是氮磷养分 ,而在后期则会释放出养分。凋落物本身的养分含量是影响分解速率的重要因素 ,高养分含量的凋落物分解快些 ,阔叶凋落物比针叶凋落物分解快些。有资料显示 ,在总分解率为2 9 4 %的构成中 ,理化因素、微生物因素与土壤动物因素对凋落物分解的贡献率分别为 7 2 %、8 0 %和 14 2 %。不同类型凋落物在分解过程中的土壤动物类群也不同 ,它也是造成凋落物分解速率不同的关键因素 ,通常阔叶树种凋落物分解过程中 ,会有更多的微节肢动物出现。CO2浓度升高将造成植物有机质含碳量与其它养分的比值升高 ,形成低品质的凋落物 ,从而间接影响凋落物分解速率 ,一般认为 ,全球CO2 浓度升高会加强土壤作为碳汇的功能。     

Foliar decomposition in a broadleaf-mixed Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. Et Zucc) plantation forest: the impact of initial litter quality and the decomposition of three kinds of organic matter fraction on mass loss and nutrient release rates

Foliar litter decomposition of nine species in broadleaf-mixed Korean pine plantation forests, northeast China was assessed over a 34-month field experiment using litterbag method. Litter mass loss generally followed a sequential decomposition of water-soluble fraction (WSF), acid-soluble fraction (ASF), and acid-insoluble fraction (AIF). WSF decomposition contributed most of litter mass loss in the first 6 months, while ASF accounted for most of litter mass loss thereafter. There existed significant autocorrelations among the initial litter quality indices. Initial N, K, Ca, AIF, AIF/N, ASF/N, and WSF/N were significantly related to the percent remaining of litter mass, N, P, Ca, and Mg in both month 12 and month 34. No litter quality can significantly predict the percent remaining of AIF and K. N and P were immobilized by all litters, but Ca, Mg, and K exhibited minor or no immobilization phase. N was the most limiting element in this forest based on the results of correlation analysis and nutrient elements release dynamics. The relationships between WSF, ASF, and AIF loss and N or P release rate fitted the polynomial regression. The decomposition of WSF and ASF were faster than N and P were mineralized during the study. AIF loss rate relative to N and P loss varied greatly among species, with high-N litter showing slower AIF decomposition rates than N and P. The loss rates of WSF and ASF were in proportion to that of K, Ca, and Mg, while AIF decomposed slower than K, Ca, and Mg. This suggested that the decomposition of WSF and ASF caused the net release of K, Ca, and Mg. Responsible Editor: David E. Crowley.     

Temporal Dynamics of Abiotic and Biotic Factors on Leaf Litter of Three Plant Species in Relation to Decomposition Rate along a Subalpine Elevation Gradient

Relationships between abiotic (soil temperature and number of freeze-thaw cycles) or biotic factors (chemical elements, microbial biomass, extracellular enzymes, and decomposer communities in litter) and litter decomposition rates were investigated over two years in subalpine forests close to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. Litterbags with senescent birch, fir, and spruce leaves were placed on the forest floor at 2,704 m, 3,023 m, 3,298 m, and 3,582 m elevation. Results showed that the decomposition rate positively correlated with soil mean temperature during the plant growing season, and with the number of soil freeze-thaw cycles during the winter. Concentrations of soluble nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) had positive effects but C:N and lignin:N ratios had negative effects on the decomposition rate (k), especially during the winter. Meanwhile, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), N (MBN), and P (MBP) were positively correlated with k values during the first growing season. These biotic factors accounted for 60.0% and 56.4% of the variation in decomposition rate during the winter and the growing season in the first year, respectively. Specifically, litter chemistry (C, N, P, K, lignin, C:N and lignin:N ratio) independently explained 29.6% and 13.3%, and the microbe-related factors (MBC, MBN, MBP, bacterial and fungal biomass, sucrase and ACP activity) explained 22.9% and 34.9% during the first winter and the first growing season, respectively. We conclude that frequent freeze-thaw cycles and litter chemical properties determine the winter decomposition while microbe-related factors play more important roles in determining decomposition in the subsequent growing season.     

Spatial characteristics in decomposition rate of foliar litter and controlling factors in Chinese forest ecosystems

凋落物分解是森林生态系统碳循环的重要组成部分。建立中国森林凋落叶分解速率数据库, 分析凋落叶分解速率与其主要影响因素之间的关系, 对精确地预测中国森林生态系统碳收支具有重要意义。该研究通过收集已报道的中国森林凋落叶分解常数(k)及其相关变量, 分析探讨地理因素(纬度、经度和海拔)、气候因素(年平均气温和年降水量)、凋落叶质量(氮、磷、钾、木质素、木质素:氮和碳氮比)和叶特性(常绿与落叶、阔叶与针叶)对中国森林凋落叶分解速率的影响。结果表明, 在国家尺度上, k随年平均气温、年降水量、氮、磷和钾的增加而增加, 随纬度、经度、海拔、碳氮比、木质素和木质素:氮的增大而减小, 叶特性对k的影响不显著。气候与地理因素(年平均气温、年降水量和纬度)能解释k值变异的34.1%, 凋落叶质量(氮、钾、木质素和木质素:氮)能解释k值变异的21.7%, 它们能共同解释k值变异的74.4%。了解森林凋落叶分解速率在国家尺度上的格局和主控因素可为中国森林生态系统碳循环相关模型提供基础参数。     

杉木观光木混交林凋落物分解及养分释放的研究（英文）

 通过福建省中亚热带杉木观光木混交林(Cunninghamia lanceolata and Tsoongiodendron odorum mixed forest)和杉木纯林(Pure C. lanceolata forest)凋落物的分解和养分释放动态试验研究表明,凋落物各组分分解过程中干物质损失速率随时间而减小,分解1年时以观光木叶的干重损失最大。各组分分解过程中N、P元素浓度增加而K和C元素浓度下降。混交林中各组分的养分释放速率大小为观光木叶>混合样品（等重量的观光木叶和杉木叶混合）>杉木叶>杉木     

Leaf litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a subtropical forest after typhoon disturbance

Decomposition of typhoon-generated and normal leaf litter and their release patterns for eight nutrient elements were investigated over 3 yr using the litterbag technique in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest on Okinawa Island, Japan. Two common tree species, Castanopsis sieboldii and Schima wallichii, representative of the vegetation and differing in their foliar traits, were selected. The elements analyzed were N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Al, Fe and Mn. Dry mass loss at the end of study varied in the order: typhoon green leaves > typhoon yellow leaves > normal leaves falling for both species. For the same litter type, Schima decomposed faster than Castanopsis. Dry mass remaining after 2 yr of decomposition was positively correlated with initial C:N and C:P ratios. There was a wide range in patterns of nutrient concentration, from a net accumulation to a rapid loss in decomposition. Leaf litter generated by typhoons decomposed more rapidly than did the normal litter, with rapid losses for N and P. Analysis of initial quality for the different litter types showed that the C:P ratios were extremely high (range 896 – 2467) but the P:N ratios were < 0.05 (range 0.02 – 0.04), indicating a likely P-limitation for this forest. On average 32% less N and 60% less P was retranslocated from the typhoon-generated green leaves than from the normal litter for the two species, Castanopsis and Schima. An estimated 2.13 g m^–2 yr^–1 more N and 0.07 g m^–2 yr^–1 more P was transferred to the soil as result of typhoon disturbances, which were as high as 52% of N and 74% of P inputted from leaf litter annually in a normal year. Typhoon-driven maintenance of rapid P cycling appears to be an important mechanism by which growth of this Okinawan subtropical forest is maintained.     

川西南常绿阔叶林凋落物分解及养分释放对模拟氮沉降的响应

通过原位进行了对照(CK)、低氮(LN,50kgN.hm-2.a-1)、中氮(MN,100kgN.hm-2.a-1)和高氮(HN,150kgN.hm-2.a-1)处理,研究了川西南天然常绿阔叶林凋落物分解及养分释放对模拟N沉降的响应.结果表明:凋落物分解95%需要4.72～6.33年,分解率最高的为CK,最低的为HN.经过365d,各处理的分解率均低于CK,仅HN与CK间差异显著(P<0.05);C残留率均高于CK;N和K残留率均显著高于CK(P<0.05);P残留率均高于CK,仅LN与CK间差异显著(P<0.05).各处理凋落物的C/N升高3.9%～23.7%.凋落物分解过程中N元素的迁移模式为富集-释放,C、P和K元素则表现为直接释放.N沉降对凋落物中养分元素的释放及木质素和纤维素的降解均具有抑制作用.随着处理时间的延长,N沉降对川西南常绿阔叶林凋落物分解的影响从正效应转向负效应,且负效应随沉降浓度的增加而加强.     

Response of nutrient dynamics of decomposing pine (Pinus massoniana) needles to simulated N deposition in a disturbed and a rehabilitated forest in tropical China

The effects of simulated N deposition on changes in mass, C, N and P of decomposing pine (Pinus massoniana) needles in a disturbed and a rehabilitated forest in tropical China were studied during a 24-month period. The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that litter decomposition in a disturbed forest is more sensitive to N deposition rate than litter decomposition in a rehabilitated forest due to the relatively low nutrient status in the former as a result of constant human disturbance (harvesting understory and litter). The litterbag method and N treatments (control, no N addition; low-N, 5 g N m⁻² year⁻¹; medium-N, 10 g N m⁻² year⁻¹) were employed to evaluate decomposition. The results revealed that N addition increased (positive effect) mass loss rate and C release rate but suppressed (negative effect) the release rate of N and P from decomposing needles in both disturbed and rehabilitated forests. The enhanced needle decomposition rate by N addition was significantly related to the reduction in the C/N ratio in decomposing needles. However, N availability is not the sole factor limiting needle decomposition in both disturbed and rehabilitated forests. The positive effect was more sensitive to the N addition rate in the rehabilitated forest than in the disturbed forest, however the reverse was true for the negative effect. These results suggest that nutrient status could be one of the important factors in controlling the response of litter decomposition and its nutrient release to elevated N deposition in reforested ecosystems in the study region.     

Release of plant nutrients from decomposing leaf litter in a South Swedish beech forest

Weight loss and dynamics of plant nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Na, Zn and Cu) in leaf litter were studied in a mature beech forest in South Sweden, using the litter bag technique. An initial decomposition period of about 12 to 18 months was characterized by an absolute net increase of N, P, and S contents in litter, followed by a period of net release of these elements. This development, which was most obvious for N and P, was interpreted as a change from a phase where decomposer activity was limited by the availability of nutrient elements to an energy-limited phase. A net release of nitrogen did not occur until after two years of decomposition, and a transfer of nitrogen and phosphorus between different litter layers is here proposed to work as a retention mechanism.
Potassium and sodium were quickly leached from the litter, while release of magnesium, calcium, and initially also manganese, was more associated to organic matter weight loss. Iron, zinc and copper were all strongly accumulated in the litter material. This is explained by mineral soil admixture for the former element and by atmospheric fall-out in combination with the chemical complex formation character for the latter two elements.
Finally, the importance of the different release processes in the total nutrient recycling of the forest is discussed.     

Can Growth Form Classification Predict Litter Nutrient Dynamics and Decomposition Rates in Lowland Wet Forest?

This study investigates whether it is possible to simplify the complex influence of numerous species on leaf litter decomposition in a diverse tropical forest using functional classifications to predict litter quality, decomposition rate, and nutrient dynamics during decomposition, over a 2-yr period. Thirty-three lowland tropical forest plant species from contrasting growth forms (canopy trees, pioneer trees, lianas, palms, herbs) were studied. Twelve of 18 indices of litter quality varied significantly among growth forms, with canopy trees and palms showing lower litter quality than pioneer trees and herbs. Canopy leaves decomposed more slowly than understory leaves. Decomposition rate and mass loss trended greater ( P <0.1) in herbs and pioneer trees compared with other growth forms. There were no significant differences between monocots and dicots, and no phylogenetic signal for decomposition was observed. Significant correlations between continuous litter quality variables and decomposition rate were observed with correlation coefficients up to 0.72. Litter lignin:Mg, P concentration, and lignin:K, were the litter quality variables most related to decomposition rate. All elements showed significant negative correlations between initial litter concentration and percent remaining, but many elements showed significant correlation between percent element remaining and initial concentrations of other elements, indicating a stoichiometric balance between these elements during decomposition. The results show that although classification by growth form and canopy position are helpful for considering the ecosystem implications of changing community composition, litter quality traits provide additional predictive power for estimating the effects of species change on decomposition.
Abstract in Spanish is available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/btp     

华北落叶松与阔叶树种混合凋落叶分解过程中养分释放和酶活性变化

森林凋落物是森林土壤的重要组成部分,凋落物分解在调控森林生态系统养分循环中发挥了关键作用。采用凋落物分解袋法,研究河北塞罕坝地区华北落叶松与白桦,华北落叶松与蒙古栎,华北落叶松、白桦和蒙古栎混合凋落叶及纯华北落叶松凋落叶分解过程中分解速率、养分释放和酶活性的变化。结果表明: 经过近2年的分解,混合凋落叶分解速率均显著高于纯华北落叶松凋落物叶;在所有处理中,华北落叶松与白桦混合凋落叶分解速率最高。在凋落叶分解过程中,不同处理养分含量变化一致,凋落叶N、P含量呈上升趋势,C、K含量和C/N呈下降趋势;相对纯华北落叶松凋落叶,各混合凋落叶分解可以促进凋落叶C、K的释放,但对N、P的释放有一定的抑制作用。在凋落叶分解过程中,不同处理凋落叶过氧化氢酶、脲酶、酸性磷酸酶活性呈上升趋势,蔗糖酶活性呈下降趋势;凋落叶分解速率与凋落叶过氧化氢酶、脲酶、酸性磷酸酶活性呈正相关,与蔗糖酶活性呈负相关。总体来看,华北落叶松和白桦、蒙古栎凋落叶混合可以促进华北落叶松凋落叶的分解,且凋落叶中酶活性动态变化与凋落叶的分解密切相关。     

季节性冻融期间亚高山森林凋落物的质量变化

凋落物质量是影响凋落物分解的重要生物因子,其在季节性冻融期间的变化可能对亚高山森林生态系统过程产生显著的影响。因此,采用凋落物分解袋法,研究了岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)和白桦(Betula platyphylla)凋落物质量在一个季节性冻融期间(2006年10月至2007年4月)的变化。季节性冻融期间,岷江冷杉和白桦凋落物的木质素(L)和纤维素的降解率为全年降解的70%-75%,岷江冷杉和白桦凋落物的C/N、L/N和纤维素/N均显著增加,而纤维素/P均有所降低。岷江冷杉凋落物的C/P和L/P有所增加,但白桦凋落物的C/P和L/P有所降低。可见,季节性冻融期间,亚高山森林凋落物的质量发生了较为显著的变化,其显著影响了亚高山凋落物分解过程。     

UV-B辐射对马尾松凋落叶分解和养分释放的影响

由大气臭氧层减薄导致的UV-B辐射变化将直接影响到凋落物的分解。目前,有关UV-B辐射影响木本植物凋落物分解的研究还很少,在国内还没有开展。采用分解袋法开展了马尾松凋落叶在自然环境和UV-B辐射滤减两种辐射环境下的分解试验。结果表明：在UV-B辐射滤减环境下的马尾松凋落叶年分解速率比对照环境减慢了47.74%。UV-B辐射极显著(p<0.01)地加快了马尾松凋落叶的分解速率,促进了凋落叶中碳、磷、钾的释放和木质素的降解,对氮的释放无明显影响。研究结果意味着UV-B辐射将加快马尾松林的营养循环速度,降低马尾松林凋落物层的碳储量。     

西双版纳热带季节雨林凋落叶分解与土壤动物群落：两种网孔分解袋的分解实验比较

 以西双版纳热带湿性季节沟谷雨林混合凋落叶作为分解基质,在不同位置季节雨林样地,采用不同网孔（ 2和0.15 mm）分解袋,开展大中型土壤动物对雨林凋落叶分解影响的实验,测定了不同网孔分解袋土壤动 物多样性、凋落叶分解速率和主要养分元素释放状况。结果显示：2 mm网孔分解袋土壤动物类群相对密度 年均值为2.67～2.83目•g－1凋落物干重,个体相对密度年均值为22.3～21.77个•g－1凋落物干重,显著 高于0.15 mm网孔分解袋的类群相对密度0.27～0.28目•g－1凋落物干重和个体相对密度2.88～2.77个•g－ 1凋落物干重（p<0.01）,并且0.15 mm网孔分解袋中极少量的动物个体主要为小型类群弹尾目和蜱螨目（ 原生动物、湿生土壤动物线虫不计）,由此我们视2 mm网孔分解袋凋落叶分解由绝大多数土壤动物和其它 土壤生物共同作用,而0.15 mm网孔分解袋基本排除了大中型土壤动物对袋内凋落叶分解的影响。2 mm网 孔分解袋凋落叶物质失重率（71%左右）、分解率指数（1.88～2.44）和主要养分元素释放率明显高于 0.15 mm分解袋（34%～35%,0.48～0.58）。通过比较两种不同网孔分解袋凋落叶失重率和元素释放率的 差异,显示出季节雨林大中型土壤动物群落对凋落叶物质损失的贡献率为年均值46%左右,并使凋落叶C/N 和C/P明显降低,而对不同元素释放率的影响不同,其中对N、S和Ca元素释放率的影响较大,而对K素释放 的影响作用最小。相关分析显示,2 mm网孔分解袋内土壤动物群落类群和个体的相对密度与凋落叶物质残 留率有较好的负相关关系,而群落香农多样性指数与凋落叶分解率指数表现出一定的正相关关系。     

川西亚高山森林凋落物不同分解阶段碳氮磷化学计量特征及种间差异

为了了解亚高山森林凋落物在不同分解阶段的化学计量特征,采用空间代替时间的方法,以自然状态下凋落物的3个层次--新鲜凋落物层（L）、发酵层（F）、腐殖质层（H））模拟凋落物分解的不同阶段,对川西亚高山不同林分类型（岷江冷杉天然林、粗枝云杉人工林、白桦天然林、杜鹃矮曲林）凋落物的碳氮磷（C、N、P）及可溶性碳氮磷（DOC、SN、SP）含量进行研究。结果表明：林分类型及分解阶段将显著影响凋落物分解过程中的碳氮磷含量及其化学计量比。亚高山森林凋落物可溶性有机碳、水溶性磷含量均随着分解过程的不断进行而降低,分解初期快速淋溶,而分解中后期释放变缓。4种林分比较而言,水溶性碳氮磷含量表现为：白桦 > 杜鹃 > 冷杉 > 云杉,阔叶树种凋落物的可溶性碳氮磷普遍高于针叶树种,尤其在分解初期。针叶树种凋落物SN在分解过程中呈现释放模式,而阔叶树种SN呈现先富集后释放模式。凋落物C含量随着分解的不断进行而降低,冷杉、白桦及杜鹃N含量呈现先富集后释放的趋势,分解阶段对云杉与白桦各层P含量影响不显著,但冷杉却呈现先降低后升高的现象,而杜鹃则是在分解后期P含量显著降低。从总体来看,亚高山森林凋落物C/P和N/P均显著小于全球平均水平,凋落物C/N、C/P、N/P、DOC/C、SN/N、SP/P均随着分解的不断进行呈现降低的趋势。分解初期白桦和杜鹃DOC/C显著降低,而冷杉则在分解后期显著降低。冷杉N/P先升高后降低,杜鹃N/P随着分解的不断进行呈现升高趋势。这些研究结果为深入理解亚高山森林生态系统的凋落物分解进程和养分循环提供了依据。