Leaf-litter decomposition of 15 tree species in a lowland tropical rain forest in Sarawak: dynamics of carbon,nutrients, and organic constituents

The effects of tree species on the dynamics of nutrient transformations during leaf-litter decomposition are not well understood in tropical rain forests. To examine differences in the dynamics of C, nutrients, and organic constituents during decomposition among tree species, the leaf-litter decomposition of 15 trees was assessed using a litter-bag method in a lowland tropical rain forest in Sarawak. The dynamics of C was parallel to that of weight loss. The dynamics of nutrients were grouped into three patterns. The dynamics of K was characterized by a high leaching loss in the initial stages, and that of Ca and Mg generally showed a gradual decrease over the course of decomposition. The dynamics of N and P showed highly different patterns with the weight loss, and was characterized by relatively higher remaining mass at the end of the experiment. The variations or exceptions of nutrient dynamics among tree species were considered to be related to the initial concentration of each nutrient. For the dynamics of organic constituents, water-soluble carbohydrates disappeared quickly at the initial stages, and acid-soluble carbohydrates were the second fastest decomposing fraction; the decomposition of acid-insoluble residue (AIS) was the slowest. The release of limiting nutrients (N and P) generally followed the disappearance of AIS, but was independent of the disappearance of AIS when the initial concentrations of these nutrients were very low.     

Leaf litter decomposition of dominant tree species of Namdapha National Park,Arunachal Pradesh,northeast India

Rates of weight loss and nutrient (N and P) release patterns were studied in the leaf litter of the dominant tree species (Ailanthus grandis, Altingia excelsa, Castanopsis indica, Duabanga sonneriatioides, Dysoxylum binectariferum, Mesua ferrea, Shorea assamica, Taluma hodgsonii, Terminalia myriocarpa and Vatica lancefolia) of a tropical wet evergreen forest of northeast India. Nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization rate and decay pattern varied significantly from species to species. In general, the decay pattern, characterized by using a composite polynomial regression equation, exhibited three distinct phases of decay during litter decomposition—an initial slow decay phase (0.063% weight loss day⁻¹), followed by a rapid decay phase (0.494% weight loss day⁻¹) and a final slow decay phase (0.136% weight loss day⁻¹). The initial chemical composition of the litter affected decomposition rates and patterns. Species like D. sonneriatoides, D. binectariferum, and T. hodgsonii with higher N and P content, lower carbon and lignin content, and lower C:N ratio and lignin:N ratio exhibited relatively faster decomposition rates than the other species, for example M. ferrea, C. indica and A. grandis. A slow decay rate was recorded for species such as M. ferrea, C. indica, and A. grandis. The initial N and P content of litter showed significant positive correlations with decay rates. Carbon and lignin content, lignin:N, and C:N showed significant negative correlations with decay rates. Soil total N and P, and rainfall, soil temperature, and soil moisture had positive correlations with decay rates. The rapid decomposition rates observed in comparison with other different forest litter decay rates confirm that tropical wet evergreen forest species are characterized by faster decomposition rates, indicating a faster rate of organic matter turnover and rapid nutrient cycling.     

凋落物分解模型研究进展

森林凋落物分解模型的研究经历了一个由简单到复杂的过程,从最初的对凋落物失重率的简单描述到广为人知的单指数分解模型,随着对凋落物分解研究的深入,双指数模型、三指数模型也应运而生。国外大部分的研究都集中于欧洲温带森林、北方森林。国内的研究也正在经历一个应用、改进和开发的过程,目前还主要处在应用和改进的阶段。为了准确预测森林生态系统尤其是在全球气候变化背景下C等元素的动态,急需建立适合于我国各类森林生态系统凋落物分解模型。本文回顾了各个历史时期出现的重要模型并进行了简单的分类和评述。     

Mixed litter decomposition in a managed Missouri Ozark forest ecosystem

We monitored the decomposition of mixed leaf litter (Quercus spp., Carya spp., and Pinusechinata) in a Missouri Ozark forest eight years after experimental harvest. Leaf litter mass losses and changes in carbon chemistry (extractive, acid soluble, and acid insoluble fractions) were measured over 32 months in field incubations to determine the effects of litter composition and stand manipulation on decomposition and nitrogen (N) concentration in the remaining litter. The decay (k) rate over this period ranged between 0.39 (±0.010) and 0.51 (±0.002) year⁻¹ for oak, oak–hickory, and oak–pine litter. There were significant main effects of stand manipulation (p = 0.03) and litter type (p < 0.01) on decay. Mass losses of oak and oak–hickory litter were 7% (p = 0.02) and 4% (p = 0.04) higher on harvested stands than controls, respectively. Mass loss of oak–hickory litter was 3% faster than oak–pine (p = 0.03) and 6% faster than oak (p = 0.02) litter on control stands, whereas the oak–hickory litter mass loss was 5% higher than oak litter on harvested stands (p = 0.01). The decay (k) rate had a linear relationship with initial leaf litter nitrogen content and lignin-to-N ratio. The nitrogen concentration in remaining litter had a nonlinear relationship to cumulative mass loss suggesting an exogenous source of N. In summary, this study demonstrated significant effects of timber harvest and litter mixtures on decomposition and N dynamics in a managed Missouri Ozark forest.     

热带雨林濒危树种望天树的致危原因及保护策略

望天树自身的开花结实特点、种子顽拗性和低成苗率、幼苗生长缓慢、过度砍伐和生境破碎化等导致其更新困难,以致陷入濒危的境地。加强自然保护区管理与法制建设、在天然林保护和次生林恢复工作中辅以人工抚育、防治病虫害和人工接种菌根菌以及实施迁地保护等措施可有效地保护望天树种质资源。     

Nutrient dynamics of foliar litter in reciprocal decomposition in tropical and subtropical forests

In order to explore the release of nutrients and the effects of global warming on the decomposition rate of forest litter, an experiment is designed to reciprocally decompose forest foliar litter in two sites across climatic zones: Mt. Jianfengling in Hainan Province in the tropics and Mt. Dinghushan in Guangdong Province in the subtropics. The two sites have similar altitudes, soil types, annual mean rainfall and seasonality of dry and wet. The main difference between these two sites is the annual mean temperature with the difference of 3.7°C. Foliar litters of 10 native dominant tree species have been collected respectively from the two sites and divided into single-species litter and mixed litter. They are decomposed reciprocally in the two sites. The results indicate that litter decomposes in the tropical site 1.36–3.06 times more rapidly than in the subtropical site. Apparent Q ₁₀, calculated on the basis of the temperature difference between the two sites, ranges from 3.7 to 7.5. The return amount of N, P and C will increase by 32.42, 1.033 and 741.1 kg/hm², respectively in Mt. Dinghushan in the first year’s litter decomposition under the prevailing temperature condition. Only in Mt. Dinghushan is the correlation between decomposition rate constant and initial litter quality high and significant in the ratio of lignin to N, lignin, the ratio of lignin to P, HLQ and C. This is not the case at Mt. Jianfengling. __________ Translated from Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 2005, 27(1): 24–32 [译自: 北京林业大学学报, 2005, 27(1): 24–32]     

模拟酸雨胁迫对银杏与池杉凋落叶分解的影响

以硫酸、亚硫酸为原料配制不同pH值的酸溶液,采用分解袋法,在室内模拟酸雨处理银杏和池杉凋落叶,研究模拟酸雨胁迫对银杏和池杉凋落叶分解的影响。结果表明:不同pH值的模拟酸雨胁迫对银杏和池杉凋落叶的分解率均存在一定的抑制作用,以对照组(pH值7.0)的凋落叶分解率最高,其次是轻度(pH值5.6)酸雨胁迫和中度(pH值4.0)酸雨胁迫处理的,分解率最低的是重度(pH值2.5)酸雨胁迫处理的,表现为随酸雨胁迫强度增强即pH值的减小而减小的趋势。2个不同树种的凋落叶对酸雨胁迫的反应也存在差异,池杉落叶分解受酸雨的影响比银杏落叶的小。     

Insights into seasonal variation of litter decomposition and related soil degradative enzyme activities in subtropical forest in China

We used a litterbag method to investigate litter decomposition and related soil degradative enzyme activities across four seasons in a broad-leaved forest and a coniferous forest on Zijin Mountain in s...     

Copper and zinc dynamics in foliar litter during decomposition from gap center to closed canopy in an alpine forest

Forest gap in alpine forests may redistribute the hydrothermal conditions in winter and growing season, which may affect the releases of copper and zinc in foliar litter during decomposition. However, the details of this process are largely unknown. Foliar litters of willow (Salix paraplesia), larch (Larix mastersiana), fir (Abies faxoniana), azalea (Rhododendron lapponicum), birch (Betula albosinensis) and cypress (Sabina saltuaria) were selected in an alpine forest of eastern Tibetan Plateau. The litterbags were placed on the forest floor from gap center, canopy gap edge and expanded gap edge to closed canopy. Zinc and copper contents were studied as litter decomposition proceeded. After one year of decomposition, zinc accumulated in all foliar litters regardless of gap positions, but copper accumulated in the litters of fir, azalea and cypress. Separately, copper was released from all foliar litters in winter, whereas zinc in litters of larch, azalea, birch and cypress was released in winter. Moreover, both copper and zinc accumulated during the growing season regardless of litter species. Nevertheless, higher accumulation rates were observed under closed canopy compared with other gap positions. These results suggest that forest gap slows the releases of copper and zinc in foliar litter during forest regeneration in these cold biomes.     

Litterfall, litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a subtropical natural oak forest and managed plantation in northeastern India

In northeastern India, subtropical forests are over-exploited for timber, fuel wood and common agricultural practice like shifting cultivation, which are responsible for the degradation of natural forest. In degraded areas, large-scale plantations of different species of Quercus have been raised since 1980 for the production of economic Tasar silk. Conversion of natural forest into plantation affects the process of nutrient cycling due to management practices. Thus, it would be of importance to study the litterfall, litter decomposition process and the factors regulating the rate of litter decay in these ecosystems to improve recommendations for their management and conservation. We recorded litterfall by using litter traps and decomposition of leaf litter by nylon net bag technique to understand the amount of organic matter and nutrient return and their release in soils of forest and plantation in Manipur, northeast India. Total litterfall was 419.9 g m⁻² year⁻¹ in plantation and 547.7 g m⁻² year⁻¹ in forest. Litter decomposition rate was faster at plantation site than the forest in the early stage of litter decomposition whereas the reverse was observed at later stages of decomposition. Stepwise regression analysis showed the significant role of relative humidity and mean temperature on mass loss rates in the forest. Relative humidity, maximum temperature, population of fungi and actinomycetes were the best predictor variables for mass loss rates in plantation. Nutrient retranslocation efficiency and the immobilization of N and P in forest litter were higher than plantation. This suggests that Q. serrata growing in natural ecosystem in oligotrophic condition adapted strong nutrient conservation mechanisms to compete with the other plant species for the meager soil nutrients. The same species in plantation loses these adaptive capabilities because of exogenous supply of nutrients and in the absence of intense competition with other plant species. Thus, the optimization of organic and chemical fertilizer input in plantation is recommended for maintaining the soil fertility level to produce quality leaf for silkworm by conserving essential nutrients in the system.     

Carbon and nitrogen dynamics in early stages of forest litter decomposition as affected by nitrogen addition

The effects of nitrogen(N) availability and tree species on the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen at early stage of decomposition of forest litter were studied in a 13-week laboratory incubation experiment.Fresh litter samples including needle litter(Pinus koraiensis) and two types of broadleaf litters(Quercus mongolica and Tilia amurensis) were collected from a broadleaf-korean pine mixed forest in the northern slope of Changbai Mountain(China).Different doses of N(equal to 0, 30 and 50 kg·ha-1yr-1, respecti...     

Effects of clearfelling on forest floor accumulation and litter decomposition in a radiata pine plantation

The short-term effects of clearfelling a Pinus radiata D. Don. stand in Catalonia (NE Spain) under Mediterranean conditions were assessed. Harvesting had little effect on the surface soil distribution and accumulation. However, after clearfelling the range of soil temperatures increased, the moisture content of the L layer decreased, and the decomposition of brown needles was retarded (mass loss rate for the first year of the incubation 0.47 year⁻¹ vs. 0.29 year⁻¹). Green needles incorporated as a result of harvesting operations showed the same rates of mass loss as brown needles. Brown needles released substantial amounts of all major nutrients, especially at the beginning of the incubation. In both clearfelled and undisturbed stands, this sudden nutrient flush may have important implications in the nutrient economy of the vegetation. In contrast, green needles behaved as a sink of nitrogen and calcium, therefore representing a temporary reservoir after clearfelling.     

Avian studies and research opportunities in the Luquillo Experimental Forest: A tropical rain forest in Puerto Rico

The Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF) located on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico has a rich history of ecological research, including a variety of avian studies, and is one of the most active ecological research sites in the Neotropics. The LEF spans an elevational range from 100 to 1075 m over which five life zones and four forest types are found in a warm, humid subtropical climate. A total of 23 bird species breeds here and another 76 species, mostly migrants, are known to occur. The food web of the forest in the lower elevations is especially well studied, which allows an assessment of the role of birds in the food web. The LEF is noted for its high densities of Eleutherodactylus frogs and Anolis lizards, which may depress insect densities thereby contributing to the low species richness and densities of most insectivorous birds. The signature species of the forest is the endangered Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata) that has been the focus of intensive long-term research and recovery efforts, which have spawned research on associated species, including long-term studies on the Pearly-eyed Thrasher (Margarops fuscatus) and botfly (Philornis spp.) ectoparasitism. Given the frequency of hurricane disturbance to the LEF and studies providing baseline for comparisons, research has made major contributions to an understanding of the effects of hurricanes on forest ecosystems including bird populations and their resources. We summarize these and other studies from the LEF to characterize the avifauna and its environment while noting studies with management implications and identify opportunities for future ornithological studies.     

亚热带林7种林冠树种落叶分解中矿质元素动态

应用分解网袋法对亚热带常绿阔叶林7种常见林冠树种落叶分解过程中矿质元素(K,Na,Ca,Mg,Al,Fe,Mn,Cu和Zn)动态变化进行了为期2年的研究。这些树种是研究地区森林植被的代表种,且不同树种的落叶化学组成差异明显。研究结果表明:落叶分解速率(落叶干重残留百分率和分解常数k)与矿质元素初始浓度之间没有明显的相关性。但是,大多数情况下,落叶干重残留百分率与残留落叶的矿质元素浓度之间有着显著的相关关系。落叶分解过程中不同矿质元素的迁移性大小依次为:Na=K>Mg≥Ca>N≥Mn≥Zn≥P>Cu>>Al>>Fe。各树种的K和Na浓度在分解中均表现为下降趋势,Ca和Mg浓度亦表现为下降趋势,但在分解初期偶有升高倾向。而各树种中的其它元素(Zn,Cu,Al,Fe)浓度在分解中都表现出升高趋势,唯有Mn例外,在不同树种间,其浓度的变化模式存在一定差异。大多数树种的Cu,Al和Fe等3元素在分解试验末期的绝对重量均比初始重量显著提高,其机理在很大程度上可能归因于这些元素与腐殖质的结合,而不是生物固定。     

广东廉江次生季雨林主要建群种空间分布(英文)

根据所调查样方的树种综合优势比值，对广东西部(粤西)廉江谢鞋山次生季雨林最重要的三个建群树种，进行了空间格局分析。分析方法采用了Poisson分布、负两项分布、Neyman分布的频次比较模型和聚合度指数测定以及Taylor指数和 Iwao's 方程模拟。结果表明这三个建群种均符合聚集分布。荔枝（Litchi chinensis ）和山杜英（Elaeocarpus sylvestris）两种群有基本型聚集分布的特点并表现出个体间的聚集现象。橄榄（Canarium album）有可能随着密度的增大而趋于均匀分布。树种的空间分布格局依赖于其繁殖特性之外，还受该次生季雨林保护的影响。这些主要建群种的空间格局表明进行该林区保护的迫切性。     

Nutrient dynamics in decomposing forest leaf litter: A comparison of field and laboratory microcosm approach

The effect of incubation setting (greenhouse: GM and field: FM microcosms) on nutrient element dynamics during decomposition of Japanese Konara Oak (Quercus serrata Murray) and Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb et. Zucc.) litter was studied. Results show a disparity in relative concentrations and amounts of the same type of litter when incubated in different settings. The nutrient mobility, however, showed similar trend. The order of elemental mobility after 12 months forQuercus in FM was: P>K>Mg>C>Mn>Ca>N>Al>Cu>Zn>Fe; for GM it was: P>K>Mn>Mg>C>Ca>N>Al>Cu>Zn>Fe. ForPinus, elemental mobility in FM was: K>Mg>C>Mn>N>P>Cu>Zn>Al>Fe; while for GM was: K>C>Mn>N>Ca>Mg>Cu>Al>P>Zn>Fe. The elements inQuercus that lost their mass were P, K, Mg, Ca, Mn and C while those that increased were N, Cu, Al, Fe and Zn. ForPinus, K and Mg lost their nutrient mass while the other elements had increased or fluctuated but tended to increase. Three patterns of nutrient mobility were observed: first, the concentration increased while the nutrient mass (absolute amount) decreased; second, both concentration and nutrient mass increased; third, the concentration and nutrient mass decreased. On tracing nutrient mobility over time, the linear regression of nutrient element mass and litter element mass was preferred over the carbon to element ratios because the former gave a clearer picture of the relationship. On the over-all, the pattern of nutrient changes in greenhouse microcosms were different from those observed in the field, hence nutrient cycling studies using greenhouse-microcosm approach alone may give inaccurate results. This study was conducted while the senior author holds a Japanese government scholarship (MONBUSHO Grant No. 920205).     

Silvicultural treatments enhance growth rates of future crop trees in a tropical dry forest

Silvicultural treatments are often needed in selectively logged tropical forest to enhance the growth rates of many commercial tree species and, consequently, for recovering a larger proportion of the initial volume harvested over the next cutting cycle. The available data in the literature suggest, however, that the effect of silvicultural treatments on tree growth is smaller in dry forests than in humid forest tree species. In this study, we analyze the effect of logging and application of additional silvicultural treatments (liana cutting and girdling of competing trees) on the growth rates of future crop trees (FCTs; i.e., trees of current and potentially commercial timber species with adequate form and apparent growth potential). The study was carried out in a tropical dry forest in Bolivia where a set of 21.25-ha plots were monitored for 4 years post-logging. Plots received one of four treatments that varied in intensity of both logging and silvicultural treatments as follows: normal (reduced-impact) logging; normal logging and low-intensity silviculture; increased logging intensity and high-intensity silviculture; and, unlogged controls. The silvicultural treatments applied to FCTs involved liberation from lianas and overtopping trees. Results showed that rates of FCT stem diameter growth increased with light availability, logging intensity, and intensity of silvicultural treatments, and decrease with liana infestation degree. Growth rate increment was larger in the light and intensive silvicultural treatment (22–27%). Long-lived pioneer species showed the strongest response to intensive silviculture (50% increase) followed by total shade-tolerant species (24%) and partial shade-tolerant species (10%). While reduced-impact logging is often not sufficient to guarantee the sustainability of timber yields, application of silvicultural treatments that substantially enhanced the growth rates of FCTs will help move the management of these forests closer to the goal of sustained yield.     

Biomass,decomposition and nutrient release of Vaccinium myrtillus leaf litter in four forest stands

Biomass and nutrient transfer (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) leaf litter fall, as well as decomposition and nutrient release, were studied in four mature forest stands situated in Central and South Sweden. Bilberry leaf litter fall amounted to between 33 and 55 kg ha^‐1 yr^‐1 in the four stands. Only minor differences between sites were noted for litter concentrations of N, P and Ca, whereas K and Mg showed somewhat larger variability. Relative amounts of the five nutrient elements in the litter fall were generally in the order N > Ca > K > Mg > P. The amounts of nutrients returned to the forest floor by the annual leaf litter fall in the stands ranged from 0.4 to 0.8 kg ha^‐1 for N, 0.4 to 0.6 kg ha^‐1 for Ca, 0.2 to 0.7 kg ha^‐1 for K, 0.1 to 0.2 kg ha^‐1 for Mg and 0.04 to 0.08 kg ha^‐1 for P.

The decomposition of the local bilberry leaf litter was followed by means of litterbags during three years. At all sites there was an extremely rapid mass loss from the litter (between 45% and 54%) during the first four to five months of decomposition. After this initial phase, the decomposition rates decreased markedly and after three years the accumulated mass losses of the litters varied between 64% and 78% at the studied sites. After two and three years of decomposition, three of the sites exhibited almost similar litter mass losses whereas at the fourth site the litter was decomposed to a significantly lower degree. The pattern of nutrient release from the decomposing bilberry leaf litter differed somewhat from site to site. Minor differences were, however, noted for P, Ca and Mg while N and K were more strongly retained in the litter at one of the sites.     

Leaf and twig litter decomposition of main species in different forests along the north slope of Changbai Mountain, northeast China

From 2001 to 2003, the litter decomposition dynamics of dominant tree species were conducted using a litterbag burying method in the broadleaf-Korean pine forest, spruce-fir forest and Ermans birch forest, which represents three altitudinal belts in Changbai Mountain, northeast China. The spatial and temporal dynamics of litter decomposition and the effects of litter properties were examined. Furthermore, the decomposition trend of different species was simulated by the Olson model, and results showed that annual mass loss rates increased over time, but was not significantly correlated. Leaf decomposition rates increased after decomposing for 638 days (1.75 years), and the order of dry weight remaining rates of leaf litter for different species is: Asian white birch (Betula platyphylla) (24.56%) < Amur linden (Tilia amurensis) (24.81%) < Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) (38.48%) < spruce (Picea jezoensis var. microsperma) (41.15%) < Ermans birch (Betula ermanii) (41.53%) < fir (Abies nephrolepis) (42.62%). The dry weight remaining rates of twig litter was smaller than that of leaf litter, and followed the order of Amur linden (44.98%) < fir (64.62%) < Korean pine (72.07%) < spruce (73.51%) < Asian white birch (77.37%) < Ermans birch (80.35%). The simulation results by the Olson model showed that, in leaf, the 95%-decomposition rates ranged from 4.5 to 8.0 years, and annual decomposition rate (k) followed the order of Amur linden (0.686) > Asian white birch (0.624) > Korean pine (0.441) > spruce (0.406) > fir (0.397) > Ermans birch (0.385); in twig, it ranged from 7.8 to 29.3 years, and k follows the order: Amur linden (0.391) > fir (0.204) > Korean pine (0.176) > spruce (0.157) > Asian white birch (0.148) > Ermans birch (0.102). In general, the differences of decomposition rate are evident between leaf and twig litter and among species, and were higher in broad-leaved species compared with coniferous species at the same elevation, and decreased with the ascending of elevation. __________ Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2006, 26(4): 1,037–1,046 [译自: 生态学报]     

Ecosystem carbon storage and partitioning in a tropical seasonal forest in Southwestern China

Tropical forests play an important role in the global carbon cycle. Despite an increasing number of studies have addressed carbon storage in tropical forests, the regional variation in such storage remains poorly understood. Uncertainty about how much carbon is stored in tropical forests is an important limitation for regional-scale estimates of carbon fluxes and improving these estimates requires extensive field studies of both above- and belowground stocks. In order to assess the carbon pools of a tropical seasonal forest in Asia, total ecosystem carbon storage was investigated in Xishuangbanna, SW China. Averaged across three 1 ha plots, the total carbon stock of the forest ecosystem was 303 t C ha⁻¹. Living tree carbon stocks (both above- and belowground) ranged from 163 to 258 t C ha⁻¹. The aboveground biomass C pool is comparable to the Dipterocarp forests in Sumatra but lower than those in Malaysia. The variation of C storage in the tree layer among different plots was mainly due to different densities of large trees (DBH > 70 cm). The contributions of the shrub layer, herb layer, woody lianas, and fine litter each accounted for 1–2 t C ha⁻¹ to the total carbon stock. The mineral soil C pools (top 100 cm) ranged from 84 to 102 t C ha⁻¹ and the C in woody debris from 5.6 to 12.5 t C ha⁻¹, representing the second and third largest C component in this ecosystem. Our results reveal that a high percentage (70%) of C is stored in biomass and less in soil in this tropical seasonal forest. This study provides an accurate estimate of the carbon pool and the partitioning of C among major components in tropical seasonal rain forest of northern tropical Asia. Results from this study will enhance our ability to evaluate the role of these forests in regional C cycles and have great implications for conservation planning.