Non-additive effects of leaf litter and insect frass mixture on decomposition processes |
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Authors: | Hideki Kagata Takayuki Ohgushi |
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Institution: | (1) Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Hirano 2-chome, Otsu Shiga, 520-2113, Japan |
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Abstract: | Although there is a growing body of evidence that herbivorous insects have a significant impact on decomposition and soil
nutrient dynamics through frass excretion, how mixtures of leaf litter and insect frass influence such ecosystem processes
remains poorly understood. We examined the effects of mixing of leaf litter and insect frass on decomposition and soil nutrient
availability, using a study system consisting of a willow, Salix gilgiana Seemen, and a herbivorous insect, Parasa consocia Walker. The chemical characteristics of insect frass differed from those of leaf litter. In particular, frass had a 42-fold
higher level of ammonium–nitrogen (NH4
+–N) than litter. Incubation experiments showed that the frass was decomposed and immobilized with respect to N more rapidly
than the litter. Furthermore, litter and frass mixtures showed non-additive enhancement of decomposition and reduction of
NH4
+–N, depending on the litter–frass mixing ratio. These indicate that, while insect frass generally accelerated decomposition,
the effect of frass on soil nutrient availability was dependent largely on the relative amounts of litter and frass. |
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Keywords: | |
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