Journal of Plant Ecology ›› 2017, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (1): 232-241.DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtw122

所属专题: 生物多样性与生态系统功能

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Species and genetic diversity affect leaf litter decomposition in subtropical broadleaved forest in southern China

Shanshan Li1,2, Yuewei Tong1,2 and Zhengwen Wang 1,*   

  1. 1 Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 72 Wenhua Rd, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; 2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Rd, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
  • 收稿日期:2015-10-02 接受日期:2016-10-27 出版日期:2017-02-04 发布日期:2017-01-30

Species and genetic diversity affect leaf litter decomposition in subtropical broadleaved forest in southern China

Shanshan Li1,2, Yuewei Tong1,2 and Zhengwen Wang 1,*   

  1. 1 Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 72 Wenhua Rd, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; 2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Rd, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2015-10-02 Accepted:2016-10-27 Online:2017-02-04 Published:2017-01-30
  • Contact: Wang, Zheng-Wen

摘要: Aims Litter decomposition is a fundamental process within ecosystem functioning, and it is largely dependent on the biodiversity of ecosystems. We explored the effects of species diversity and genetic diversity of litter on the litter decomposition rate.
Methods We used laboratory microcosms to determine whether species diversity and genetic diversity and their interaction affect leaf litter decomposition. We set up 8 treatments containing 1, 2, 4 diversity levels of four broad-leaf species (Alniphyllum fortunei, Idesia polycarpa, Cinnamomum camphora and Daphniphyllum oldhamii) both in species and genetic sense. Totally 246 microcosms containing same amount of soil and litter of prescribed diversity treatment were stored in the dark at 25°C for 12 weeks.
Important findings The effect of litter species diversity on litter decomposition was largely dependent on species composition of the litter mixture in terms of species identity. Overall, the decomposition rate increased linearly with the richness of seed family when the species identity was disregarded. However, no interactive effect of species diversity and genetic diversity on mass loss was detected. The litter decomposition rate was found to be unrelated to the initial carbon (C), whereas it was negatively correlated with the initial total nitrogen (N) and N:P ratio. However, the regression curves of the litter decomposition rate against the total P and C:N ratio displayed quadratic parabolas opening upward and downward, respectively. This study demonstrated how species and/or genetic diversity and the stoichiometry of litter per se affect litter decomposition. Further studies should be performed in the long term to ascertain how such effects operate and how they change during the decomposition process, particularly in response to varying composition and diversity of standing plants in the environments.

Abstract: Aims Litter decomposition is a fundamental process within ecosystem functioning, and it is largely dependent on the biodiversity of ecosystems. We explored the effects of species diversity and genetic diversity of litter on the litter decomposition rate.
Methods We used laboratory microcosms to determine whether species diversity and genetic diversity and their interaction affect leaf litter decomposition. We set up 8 treatments containing 1, 2, 4 diversity levels of four broad-leaf species (Alniphyllum fortunei, Idesia polycarpa, Cinnamomum camphora and Daphniphyllum oldhamii) both in species and genetic sense. Totally 246 microcosms containing same amount of soil and litter of prescribed diversity treatment were stored in the dark at 25°C for 12 weeks.
Important findings The effect of litter species diversity on litter decomposition was largely dependent on species composition of the litter mixture in terms of species identity. Overall, the decomposition rate increased linearly with the richness of seed family when the species identity was disregarded. However, no interactive effect of species diversity and genetic diversity on mass loss was detected. The litter decomposition rate was found to be unrelated to the initial carbon (C), whereas it was negatively correlated with the initial total nitrogen (N) and N:P ratio. However, the regression curves of the litter decomposition rate against the total P and C:N ratio displayed quadratic parabolas opening upward and downward, respectively. This study demonstrated how species and/or genetic diversity and the stoichiometry of litter per se affect litter decomposition. Further studies should be performed in the long term to ascertain how such effects operate and how they change during the decomposition process, particularly in response to varying composition and diversity of standing plants in the environments.

Key words: C:N, litter chemistry, mass loss rate, microcosm, N:P, seed family