Experimental evidence for the interacting effects of forest edge,moisture and soil macrofauna on leaf litter decomposition |
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| Institution: | 1. Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK;2. Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon OX13 5QL, UK;3. Earthwatch Institute, 256 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7DE, UK;4. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK;5. Natural England, Cromwell House, 15 Andover Road, Winchester SO23 7BT, UK;1. Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sársfield 1611-(X5016GCA), Córdoba, Argentina;2. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sársfield 1611-(X5016GCA), Córdoba, Argentina;1. School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University at the West Campus, Glendale, AZ, USA;2. Phoenix College, Phoenix, AZ, USA;1. Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway;2. Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (Evogene), Department of Biology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway;3. Department of Ecological Science, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands;1. College of Geographical Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China;2. Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China;3. Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway, NJ 08205, USA |
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| Abstract: | Forest ecosystems have been widely fragmented by human land use. Fragmentation induces significant microclimatic and biological differences at the forest edge relative to the forest interior. Increased exposure to solar radiation and wind at forest edges reduces soil moisture, which in turn affects leaf litter decomposition. We investigate the effect of forest fragmentation, soil moisture, soil macrofauna and litter quality on leaf litter decomposition to test the hypothesis that decomposition will be slower at a forest edge relative to the interior and that this effect is driven by lower soil moisture at the forest edge. Experimental plots were established at Wytham Woods, UK, and an experimental watering treatment was applied in plots at the forest edge and interior. Decomposition rate was measured using litter bags of two different mesh sizes, to include or exclude invertebrate macrofauna, and containing leaf litter of two tree species: easily decomposing ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and recalcitrant oak (Quercus robur L.). The decomposition rate was moisture-limited at both sites. However, the soil was moister and decomposition for both species was faster in the forest interior than at the edge. The presence of macrofauna accelerated the decomposition rate regardless of moisture conditions, and was particularly important in the decomposition of the recalcitrant oak. However, there was no effect of the watering treatment on macrofauna species richness and abundance. This study demonstrates the effect of forest fragmentation on an important ecosystem process, providing new insights into the interacting effects of moisture conditions, litter quality, forest edge and soil macrofauna. |
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