Differences in processing dynamics of fresh and dried leaf litter in a stream ecosystem

SUMMARY. 1. Although the bulk of litter input to stream ecosystems is in the form of fresh leaves, current understanding of organic matter processing is largely founded on experimental studies made with pre-dried leaves. This paradox points to the critical need for evaluating to what extent those experiments with dried leaves reflect natural litter decomposition.
2. The mass loss rates, patterns of mass loss, and chemical changes during processing of fresh leaf litter were compared with air-dried leaf litter in a stream ecosystem.
3. Although overall mass loss rates were similar between treatments ( k = 0.0213 day⁻¹ and 0.0206 day⁻¹), fresh leaves lost mass at a constant rate, whereas the decay of dried leaves proceeded in two distinct phases. Soluble organic carbon, phosphorus, and potassium were rapidly leached from dried litter, but were largely retained in fresh material for more than a week. Kinetics of concentrations of cellulose and changes in amounts of lignin remaining per leaf pack revealed further differences in decomposition dynamics between treatments, apparently related, either directly or indirectly, to differences in leaching behaviour.
4. Dynamics of nitrogen and protein contents were similar between treatments, indicating that microbial colonization was not greatly delayed on fresh leaves.
5. It is concluded that the retention of labile carbon and nutrients in fresh leaf litter facilitates their utilization by leaf-associated micro-organisms and invertebrates, resulting in an increased importance of biotic processes relative to physical processes such as leaching.
6. At the ecosystem level, retention of carbon and nutrients in streams would be increased, allowing greater overall productivity. Conversely, the availability of labile organic carbon would be reduced in compartments such as the epilithon, fine sediments, and the water column.     

Effects of tannins on the decomposition of Chinese tallow leaves by terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates

Summary The hypothesis of this study was that tannins from Chinese tallow leaves have a negative effect upon terrestrial and aquatic reducer organisms and thereby may affect the overall rate of tallow litter decomposition. Species diversity and population size of aquatic reducers was lower in forest than adjacent grassland ponds; litter bags showed no difference in weight loss between bags which excluded reducers and those which did not. Differences in physical factors between habitats did not explain the paucity of reducers although rainfall permitted emigration of grassland organisms to forest ponds, yielding a temporary decrease in diversity.Tannin concentration in ephemeral ponds was altered by rainfall but leaching from leaves and soil continuously maintained tannin in ponds. Laboratory experiments showed that tannin was not directly toxic but inhibition of feeding caused high mortality in Asellus militaris and Crangonyx shoemackerii.Population density and reproduction of the terrestrial reducer (Armadillidium vulgare) was asynchronous with autumn leaf fall. Ground, leached leaves were consumed at much greater rate in laboratory experiments than unground, unleached leaves; in addition, mortality from starvation on the latter was high. These results suggest tallow leaves are not utilized by reducers until tannins are leached and the physical structure altered by rainfall and/or microbial action. Aquatic reducers are relatively unimportant in processing autumn leaf fall due to continual tannin leaching into ephemeral ponds from surrounding soil. Physical and microbial condition of leaves and leaching of tannin preceed spring and summer utilization by terrestrial isopods.     

Towards a budget of leaf litter decomposition in a first-order woodland stream

To construct a budget of carbon transformations occurring during leaf decomposition, alder leaves were placed in a woodland stream, later retrieved at weekly intervals, and rates of fungal and bacterial production, microbial respiration, and release of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) were determined during short laboratory incubations. Carbon dioxide was the major decomposition product, explaining 17% of the microbially mediated leaf mass loss. DOM and FPOM were also important products (5 and 3% of total mass loss, respectively), whereas carbon flow to microbial biomass was low (2%). Fungal biomass in leaves always exceeded bacterial biomass (95–99% of total microbial biomass), but production of bacteria and fungi was similar, indicating that both types of microorganisms need to be considered when examining leaf decomposition in streams. Comparison of leaf mass loss in coarse and fine mesh bags revealed, in addition, that the shredder, Gammarus pulex, had a major impact on leaf decomposition in this study.     

Response of Biofilm Bacteria to Dissolved Organic Matter from Decomposing Maple Leaves

Stream bacteria play an important role in the utilization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) leached from leaves, and in transfer of this DOM to other trophic levels. Leaf leachate is a mixture of labile, recalcitrant, and inhibitory compounds, and bacterial communities vary in their ability to utilize leachate. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of DOM from sugar maple leaves on bacterial populations in biofilms on decomposing leaf surfaces. Populations of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Burkholderia cepacia, and Pseudomonas putida were enumerated on decomposing maple leaves in a northeast Ohio stream using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Additionally, artificial substrata consisting of PVC-end caps filled with agar supplemented with leaf leachate and covered with cellulose filters were used to determine bacterial response to leachate from leaves at different stages of decomposition. Population sizes of bacterial species exhibited different responses. Leachate did not affect A. calcoaceticus. B. cepacia was tolerant of phenolic compounds released from leaves and the population size increased when DOM concentrations were greatest. In contrast, P. putida was inhibited by phenolic components of leachate when total DOM concentrations were greatest. Differences in response of the bacterial species to components of leaf leachate indicate the complexity of microbial population dynamics and interactions with DOM. Differences among species in response to DOM have the potential to influence transport and retention of organic matter in stream ecosystems.     

Variable effects of air-drying on leaching losses from tree leaf litter

Leaching of soluble substances may be an important first step in leaf litter decomposition in small streams, but recent research has suggested that large leaching losses (up to 30% of initial mass in 48 h) may be an artifact created by using air-dried leaves in decomposition experiments. In laboratory experiments, we compared 3 d leaching losses from freshly fallen and air-dried senescent leaves of 27 tree species from different regions across Canada. Air-dried leaves from all species leached measurable amounts of original mass (3.6–32.8% dry mass), but leaching losses from fresh leaves (0–35%) were detectable in all but two species. Air-drying increased leaching losses in many species, but in others it reduced leaching losses or had no measurable effect. Results for leaves of the same species collected in different regions or in different years were generally similar, but species within the same genus often behaved very differently. Neither moisture content (fresh or air-dried), leaf thickness, nor cuticle thickness proved of any value as predictors of leaching losses or the effect of air-drying. The propensity of autumn-fallen leaves to leach, whether fresh or air-dried, appears to be a property of the individual tree species.     

Evidence for the use of non-detrital dissolved organic matter by microheterotrophs on plant detritus in a woodland stream

SUMMARY 1. Recent studies provide evidence for the use of exudates from living plants by epilithic microheterotrophs in streams. This study investigated the possible use of such non-detrital sources of dissolved organic matter (DOM) by streatn microheterotrophs colonizing leaf litter. Biomass of bacteria and of fungi accumulating in situ on autumn-shed leaves in flow-through troughs from which light was excluded was compared to that accumulating on leaves in troughs open to natural illumination.
2. In experiments repeated at different times of year and in different stream sections, greater biomass of microheterotrophs consistently accumulated on the leaf detritus in troughs open to natural illumination. Differences in water temperature or in grazing of leaf surfaces by macroinvertebrates could not account for these consistent differences. Further, greater microheterotroph biomass accumulated on light- and dark-incubated leaves in a stream section relatively open to sunlight, compared to corresponding leaves in a section heavily shaded by canopy and understorey vegetation.
3. These and other results suggest that, to some yet undetermined extent, detritus-associated microheterotrophs use non-detrital DOM. This conclusion is consistent with a priori predictions based on consideration of microbial energetics involved in the use of detrital versus non-detrital DOM.
4. Studies of trophic pathways in streams and other aquatic habitats have failed to assess some potentially important sources of non-detrital DOM. The ability of available techniques to assess the relative roles of detrital and non-detrital sources of DOM is evaluated, and alternative approaches to this problem are suggested.     

不同来源可溶性有机物对亚热带森林土壤CO2排放的影响

采用室内培养法, 比较分析了亚热带地区杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)和米槠(Castanopsis carlesii)鲜叶及凋落叶浸提得到的可溶性有机物(dissolved organic matter, DOM)组成和化学性质差异对土壤CO₂排放的影响。结果表明: 添加不同来源的DOM后, 土壤CO₂瞬时排放速率在培养第1天内均显著高于对照(添加去离子水) (p < 0.05), 分别比对照增加了91.5% (添加杉木鲜叶DOM)、12.8% (添加米槠鲜叶DOM)、61.0% (添加杉木凋落叶DOM)和113.3% (添加米槠凋落叶DOM), 但培养5天后, 分别下降到对照的24.1%、8.3%、14.6%和13.2%, 随后逐渐趋于平稳。单次添加外源DOM到土壤中, 引起土壤CO₂排放速率增加的强度较大, 但持续时间短暂。培养31天时, 添加不同来源的DOM均对土壤CO₂累积排放量具有显著影响(p < 0.05), 而在培养59天时, 添加杉木鲜叶和凋落叶DOM的土壤CO₂累积排放量均显著高于添加米槠鲜叶和凋落叶DOM的土壤CO₂累积排放量, 但添加相同树种鲜叶与凋落叶DOM的土壤CO₂累积排放量之间差异不显著。培养结束后, 添加杉木鲜叶DOM和杉木凋落叶DOM后增加的土壤碳排放量, 分别是外源添加可溶性有机碳量的1.76倍和2.56倍, 而添加米槠鲜叶DOM和米槠凋落叶DOM后增加的土壤碳排放量只占外源添加可溶性有机碳量的22.5%和50.0%, 表明单次添加不同来源的DOM对土壤总有机碳库的影响是不一致的。     

亚热带地区竞争型和忍耐型树种叶片可溶性有机质数量及光谱学特征

气候变化下,不同生态策略的树种对环境变化有着不同的响应能力,影响其叶片淋溶产生的DOM(Dissolved organic matter)的数量和质量,进而影响土壤的养分循环。通过探究亚热带地区不同生态策略树种叶片DOM数量及光谱学特征的差异,评估不同数量和结构特征DOM输入到土壤对养分循环的影响。本研究选取6种树种鲜叶进行浸提,其中竞争型(Competitive,C)和忍耐型(Stress-tolerant,S)各3种(树参(Dendropanax dentiger),黄绒润楠(Machilus grijsii),黄牛奶树(Symplocos cochinchinensis(Lour.)),细柄阿丁枫(Altingia gracilipes),丝栗栲(Castanopsis fargesii)和罗浮栲(Castanopsis faberi))。通过溶解性有机碳(Dissolved organic carbon,DOC)、溶解性有机氮(Dissolved organic nitrogen,DON)表征DOM的数量特征,通过紫外吸收值(Special Ultraviolet-Visible Absorption,SUVA),腐殖化指标(Humification index,HIX)和傅里叶红外光谱(Fouriertransform infrared,FTIR)等光谱指标表征DOM质量特征。结果表明:不同生态策略树种的叶浸提液中可溶性有机碳浓度无显著差异,但是C策略树种浸提液中可溶性有机氮浓度大于S策略的DON浓度。此外,S策略的芳香化指数(Aromatic index,AI)和腐殖化指数(HIX)均高于C策略。C策略树种的发射荧光强度也高于S策略,说明C策略树种DOM腐殖化程度较低,易分解物质含量高;S策略难分解物质多,腐殖化程度较高。傅里叶红外光谱结果表明,各树种叶浸提的DOM存在相似的吸收峰,其中以H键键合的—OH伸缩振动最强且C策略树种结果相对简单,验证了荧光光谱的结果。总体而言,与C策略相比,S策略树种叶片浸提的DOM结构更复杂,养分含量更高。这可能是因为,S策略树种对环境变化具有更高的适应性。由于其DOM结构相对复杂,输入土壤后减缓土壤碳周转速率,在未来气候变化情景下,S策略树种可能有利于土壤碳汇的形成。     

A mechanism for the leaching of calcium from foliage

Young bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) containing root-absorbed ⁴⁵Ca and ⁸⁶Rb were leached to determine the pathway and mechanism of cation loss by leaching. Calcium is leached from the exchangeable calcium fraction within the plant by a process of ion exchange and diffusion involving exchange sites both within the leaf and on the leaf surface. Leaching of cations is primarily a passive process, although some metabolites may be deposited upon leaf surfaces by active processes. The exchange and diffusion explanation is compatible with current theories of ion uptake and translocation and explains the results of numerous experiments on leaching reported in the literature.     

马尾松与芒萁鲜叶及凋落物水溶性有机物的溶解特征和光谱学特征

为探讨福建省三明市马尾松人工林淋溶液中水溶性有机物(DOM)的溶解特征和光谱学特征,以马尾松(Pinus massoniana)和芒萁(Dicranopteris dichotoma)鲜叶、未分解层(L层)和半分解层(F层)凋落物为研究对象进行室内淋溶,对淋溶液中的水溶性有机碳(DOC)、水溶性有机氮(DON)与水溶性有机磷(DOP)含量和紫外光谱(SUVA)、荧光光谱指标和红外光谱(FTIR)等特征进行研究。结果表明,在24 h内,随着淋溶时间的延长,DOM含量呈现有波动的上升趋势;芒萁除鲜叶的DOC含量显著高于马尾松外(P0.01),其余DOM含量均小于马尾松。两植物F层DOM的SUVA值和腐殖化指标(HIX)都显著高于鲜叶和L层(P0.05),表明F层的芳香性化合物含量和腐殖化程度越来越高。DOM的同步荧光峰值显示淋溶液中含有类蛋白和类富里酸荧光团。两植物的红外光谱显示有5个相似的吸收谱带,强度最大的吸收来自于H键键合的-OH的伸缩振动,同一植物3种样品之间红外吸收的差异证明从鲜叶-L层-F层凋落物的共轭体系逐渐增大,结构更复杂。因此,随分解进程两植被DOM的化学结构越来越复杂;马尾松较芒萁含有更多的DON和DOP,这一方面为微生物提供了更多的养分,另一方面又增加了底物分解的难度。     

Factors' governing ingestion by the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris (L.), with special reference to apple leaves

Captive worms fed little on fresh apple leaves, but did so readily after the leaves had been leached in water. This was due to their being soft and easy to fragment and not to loss of unpalatable substances during the leaching process. A simple apparatus to measure leaf texture is described. Worm feeding rates were similar for leaves of similar texture but of different phenolic content. Filter paper was accepted as food. The addition of leaf leachates to filter paper disks increased feeding rates, so did added bacterial cells. The part played by leaf micro-organisms in the nutrition of worms and their effect on leaf texture is discussed. Unsoftened leaf material was readily eaten provided it was small enough to be swallowed whole. Leaves from various aromatic plants were eaten by starved worms, but rejected by well-fed ones. Starved worms given aromatic leaf material together with apple leaf preferred the latter. Various unusual materials were eaten, but polyester foam was accepted only when coated with bacterial cells. Responses to chemical as well as to tactile stimuli seem to be involved.     

Copper and zinc mixtures induce shifts in microbial communities and reduce leaf litter decomposition in streams

1. To assess the impact of metal mixtures on microbial decomposition of leaf litter, we exposed leaves previously immersed in a stream to environmentally realistic concentrations of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) (three levels), alone and in all possible combinations. The response of the microbial community was monitored after 10, 25 and 40 days of metal exposure by examining leaf mass loss, fungal and bacterial biomass, fungal reproduction and fungal and bacterial diversity.
2. Analysis of microbial diversity, assessed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and identification of fungal spores, indicated that metal exposure altered the structure of fungal and bacterial communities on decomposing leaves.
3. Exposure to metal mixtures or to the highest Cu concentration significantly reduced leaf decomposition rates and fungal reproduction, but not fungal biomass. Bacterial biomass was strongly inhibited by all metal treatments.
4. The effects of Cu and Zn mixtures on microbial decomposition of leaf litter were mostly additive, because observed effects did not differ from those expected as the sum of single metal effects. However, antagonistic effects on bacterial biomass were found in all metal combinations and on fungal reproduction in metal combinations with the highest Cu concentrations, particularly at longer exposure times.     

Response of dissolved organic matter in the forest floor to long-term manipulation of litter and throughfall inputs

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) contributes to organic carbon either stored in mineral soil horizons or exported to the hydrosphere. However, the main controls of DOM dynamics are still under debate. We studied fresh leaf litter and more decomposed organic material as the main sources of DOM exported from the forest floor of a mixed beech/oak forest in Germany. In the field we doubled and excluded aboveground litter input and doubled the input of throughfall. From 1999 to 2005 we measured concentrations and fluxes of dissolved organic C and N (DOC, DON) beneath the Oi and Oe/Oa horizon. DOM composition was traced by UV and fluorescence spectroscopy. In selected DOM samples we analyzed the concentrations of phenols, pentoses and hexoses, and lignin-derived phenols by CuO oxidation. DOC and DON concentrations and fluxes almost doubled instantaneously in both horizons of the forest floor by doubling the litter input and DOC concentrations averaged 82 mg C l⁻¹ in the Oe/Oa horizon. Properties of DOM did not suggest a change of the main DOM source towards fresh litter. In turn, increasing ratios of hexoses to pentoses and a larger content of lignin-derived phenols in the Oe/Oa horizon of the Double litter plots in comparison to the Control plots indicated a priming effect: Addition of fresh litter stimulated microbial activity resulting in increased microbial production of DOM from organic material already stored in Oe/Oa horizons. Exclusion of litter input resulted in an immediate decrease in DOC concentrations and fluxes in the thin Oi horizon. In the Oe/Oa horizon DOC concentrations started to decline in the third year and were significantly smaller than those in the Control after 5 years. Properties of DOM indicated an increased proportion of microbially and throughfall derived compounds after exclusion of litter inputs. Dissolved organic N did not decrease upon litter exclusion. We assume a microbial transformation of mineral N from throughfall and N mineralization to DON. Increased amounts of throughfall resulted in almost equivalently increased DOC fluxes in the Oe/Oa horizon. However, long-term additional throughfall inputs resulted in significantly declining DOC concentrations over time. We conclude that DOM leaving the forest floor derives mainly from decomposed organic material stored in Oe/Oa horizons. Leaching of organic matter from fresh litter is of less importance. Observed effects of litter manipulations strongly depend on time and the stocks of organic matter in forest floor horizons. Long-term experiments are particularly necessary in soils/horizons with large stocks of organic matter and in studies focusing on effects of declined substrate availability. The expected increased primary production upon climate change with subsequently enhanced litter input may result in an increased production of DOM from organic soil horizons.     

Landscape patterns and stream reaches in the Alaskan taiga forest: potential roles of permafrost in differentiating macroinvertebrate communities

Many wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain in southwestern Australia have catchments with significant areas of native vegetation. The dynamics of P release from their litter and its significance as a P source for wetlands have not been previously investigated. Litterfall of common plant species were collected before the local rainy season, and examined for P leaching properties under inundated conditions. Inundation of `intact' litter materials for 24 hours leached 30±7.5% (95% confidence level) of this Tot-P in litter, measured by anion exchange membrane extraction. This increased to 46.9% of `apparent' P release at 115 days. The released P was incorporated into microbial biomass during leaching so modifying leachate concentrations. Using liquid chloroform `fumigation' it was estimated that 36.2 ± 15.6% (95% confidence level) of Tot-P leached during the 115-day inundation was in the microbial biomass pool, not directly measured by AEM extraction. P leaching during initial and prolonged inundation correlated with litter Ca, Mg and total base concentration, but the initial Tot-P concentration of litter was the best predictor for P leaching, in both short-term and prolonged inundation (R <sup>2</sup> = 0.80 and 0.93, p < 0.0001). The high P leaching rate during 24 hours suggested that P from litter during `first storm' events could produce a significant P flux from local catchments and contribute nutrients to downstream wetlands.     

The contribution of leaching to the rapid release of nutrients and carbon in the early decay of wetland vegetation

Our goal was to quantify the coupled process of litter turnover and leaching as a source of nutrients and fixed carbon in oligotrophic, nutrient-limited wetlands. We conducted poisoned and non-poisoned incubations of leaf material from four different perennial wetland plants (Eleocharis spp., Cladium jamaicense, Rhizophora mangle and Spartina alterniflora) collected from different oligotrophic freshwater and estuarine wetland settings. Total phosphorus (TP) release from the P-limited Everglades plant species (Eleocharis spp., C. jamaicense and R. mangle) was much lower than TP release by the salt marsh plant S. alterniflora from N-limited North Inlet (SC). For most species and sampling times, total organic carbon (TOC) and TP leaching losses were much greater in poisoned than non-poisoned treatments, likely as a result of epiphytic microbial activity. Therefore, a substantial portion of the C and P leached from these wetland plant species was bio-available to microbial communities. Even the microbes associated with S. alterniflora from N-limited North Inlet showed indications of P-limitation early in the leaching process, as P was removed from the water column. Leaves of R. mangle released much more TOC per gram of litter than the other species, likely contributing to the greater waterborne [DOC] observed by others in the mangrove ecotone of Everglades National Park. Between the two freshwater Everglades plants, C. jamaicense leached nearly twice as much P than Eleocharis spp. In scaling this to the landscape level, our observed leaching losses combined with higher litter production of C. jamaicense compared to Eleocharis spp. resulted in a substantially greater P leaching from plant litter to the water column and epiphytic microbes. In conclusion, leaching of fresh plant litter can be an important autochthonous source of nutrients in freshwater and estuarine wetland ecosystems.     

Differential production yet chemical similarity of dissolved organic matter across a chronosequence with contrasting nutrient availability in Hawaii

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a critical phase in terrestrial carbon and nutrient cycling forming the basis of many ecosystem functions, yet the primary drivers controlling its flux from organic horizons and resultant chemical composition remain only partially understood. We studied dissolved organic matter production and chemistry from organic soil horizons across a 4.1 My old well-constrained chronosequence in Hawaii. Controlled soil column irrigation and leaching experiments were conducted on field moist organic soil horizons to quantify microbial activity, DOM production and chemistry. Both microbial activity (defined as CO₂ production per unit substrate C) and DOM production were found to be lowest in the youngest (0.3 ky) and oldest (4.1 My) sites of the chronosequence, where nutrients (N and P respectively) were most limiting. By contrast, DOM production and microbial activity was greatest at the intermediate-aged (20–350 ky) sites where nutrients were least limiting, unrelated to the mass of organic matter found in the organic horizons. While differences in production rates were found, ¹³C NMR spectroscopic results indicated that there was a convergence of chemistry from the solid to the dissolved phase at all sites. In particular, all DOM samples were found to have a high proportion of aromatic acids. With supporting data from a diverse range of ecosystems, we postulate that chemical homogenization of DOM relative to source material is a common feature of many ecosystems due to two microbially mediated processes: (1) similar extracellular enzymatic oxidation conferring solubility to a subset of degradation products; and (2) the rapid selective consumption of the more labile organic compounds in the soil solution.     

Column bioleaching of low-grade mining ore containing high level of smithsonite,talc, sphaerocobaltite and azurite

Present work describes the bioleaching potential of metals from low-grade mining ore containing smithsonite, sphaerocobaltite, azurite and talc as main gangue minerals with adapted consortium of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans strain-RDB and Thermoplasma acidophilum. Bioleaching potential improved markedly by added energy source, acid preleaching and adaptation of microbial consortium with mixed metal ions. During whole leaching period including acid preleaching stage of 960 h and bioleaching stage of 212 days about 76% Co, 70% Zn, 84% Cu, 72% Ni and 63% Fe leached out.     

Pattern of defoliation and its effect on photosynthesis and growth of Goldenrod

1. Leaf area was removed from Solidago altissima in either a dispersed pattern (half of every leaf removed) or a concentrated pattern (every other leaf removed) and effects on leaf gas exchange, vegetative growth and flowering were examined relative to undefoliated controls. Gas exchange was measured for leaves remaining after defoliation and for regrowth leaves that developed post-damage (at 7, 16 and 26 days post-defoliation).
2. Area-based photosynthetic rates of leaves remaining after defoliation were not affected by either dispersed or concentrated damage, but damage of both types enhanced area-based photosynthesis of regrowth leaves at 16 days post-defoliation and to a lesser extent at 26 days post-defoliation.
3. Dispersed damage, but not concentrated damage, stimulated mass-based photosynthesis of undamaged leaves remaining after defoliation. Undamaged leaves remaining after defoliation and regrowth leaves on damaged plants had higher specific leaf area (leaf area/leaf mass) than comparable leaves on control plants. Mass-based photosynthesis was more strongly elevated by defoliation than area-based photosynthesis because of this increase in specific leaf area.
4. Plants with dispersed damage recovered more quickly from defoliation; they had higher relative growth rates in the first week post-defoliation than plants with concentrated damage. Both types of defoliation caused similar reductions in flower production.
5. These results add to accumulating evidence that dispersed damage is generally less detrimental to plants than concentrated damage and suggest that physiological changes in leaves may be part of the reason.     

Senescent leaf exudate increases mosquito survival and microbial activity

We conducted experiments to evaluate the effects of soluble components in senescent leaf material on the growth and development of the eastern tree hole mosquito, Aedes triseriatus (Say). Oak leaves that were either leached for three days to remove the labile nutrient fraction, or were not leached, served as basal nutrient inputs in each experiment.Mosquito performance in microcosms containing leachate only was significantly worse compared with microcosms containing leaf material in combination with either leachate or water, indicating the importance of leaf substrates to mosquito production.Adult mosquito biomass, emergence, and development time were significantly higher in microcosms containing unleached leaves compared with leached leaf material. Additions of leachate to leached leaf treatments enhanced adult production, but not to the level observed in unleached leaf treatments.Filtered and unfiltered leachate added substantial nitrogen and phosphorus to microcosms and significantly affected mosquito growth responses. Bacterial productivity and abundance were also significantly affected by leachate additions and filtering.Taken together, these results suggest that while leaves decline with respect to nutritional value during decomposition, they remain important components of the habitat as substrates for microbial growth and mosquito feeding, particularly when nutrients (here, leachate) enter the system. Our results also illustrate the importance of soluble leaf material, which enhances mosquito production through effects on microbial community dynamics.     

Effects of dissolved organic matter from different plant sources on soil enzyme activities in subtropical forests

探究不同植物来源可溶性有机质(DOM)进入土壤后对酶活性的影响, 可以为降水淋溶下亚热带地区不同森林生态系统土壤碳循环提供科学依据。该研究提取杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)、木荷(Schima superba)和楠木(Phoebe zherman) 3种植物鲜叶中的DOM分别输入杉木人工林土壤中, 以等量的去离子水添加为对照, 进行25天的室内培养。培养结束后测定土壤理化性质、微生物生物量和酶活性等指标。结果表明: 与对照处理(CT)相比, 添加3种叶片DOM后, 土壤总有机碳(SOC)、总氮(TN)含量和碳氮比均无显著变化。杉木叶片DOM添加处理(CL)的TN含量显著低于木荷叶片DOM添加处理(SL)和楠木叶片DOM添加处理(PL), 碳氮比显著高于SL和PL。3种叶片DOM输入整体上提高了土壤溶解有机碳(DOC)和溶解有机氮(DON)的含量。叶片DOM输入后土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)含量无显著变化, 然而CL和SL的土壤微生物生物量氮(MBN)含量分别比CT降低了50.9%和51.1%, PL的MBN含量比CT提高了54.0%。与CT相比, 不同植物来源DOM输入后, β-葡萄糖苷酶(βG)、纤维素水解酶(CBH)和过氧化物酶(PEO) 3种酶活性均显著上升, 而多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性则显著下降; 此外, βG和CBH活性均表现出CL > SL > PL的特征。相关性分析的结果表明, 添加叶片DOM 3种处理的SOC、TN、MBN含量和βG、CBH活性都与所输入DOM的DOC含量和腐殖化指数(HIX)显著相关, 此外, 土壤MBN含量和PPO活性与输入叶片DOM的pH呈正相关关系。冗余分析(RDA)结果表明, 叶片DOM输入后引起土壤酶活性变化的关键因子是DON和DOC含量。总体来说, 不同植物来源DOM性质的差异会影响土壤碳循环水解酶的活性, 而叶片DOM输入后增加了土壤碳和氮的有效性, 引起4种碳循环酶的不同响应。