Effects of acid rain on leaf-litter decomposition in a beech forest on calcareous soil |
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Authors: | V Wolters |
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Institution: | (1) H. zoologisches Institut der Universität Göttingen, Abteilung Ökologie, Berliner Str. 28, W-3400 Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany |
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Abstract: | Summary The effects of simulated acid rain on litter decomposition in a calcareous soil (pHH
2
O 5.8) were studied. Litterbags (45 m and 1 mm mesh size) containing freshly fallen beech leaf litter were exposed to different concentrations of acid in a beech forest on limestone (Göttinger Wald. Germany) for 1 year. Loss of C, the ash content, and CO2–C production were measured at the end of the experiment. Further tests measured the ability of the litter-colonizing microflora to metabolize 14C-labelled beech leaf litter and hyphae. The simulated acid rain strongly reduced CO2–C and 14CO2–C production in the litter. This depression in production was very strong when the input of protons was 1.5 times greater than the normal acid deposition, but comparatively low when the input was 32 times greater. acid deposition may thus cause a very strong accumulation of primary and secondary C compounds in the litter layer of base-rich soils, even with a moderate increase in proton input. The presence of mesofauna significantly reduced the ability of the acid rain to inhibit C mineralization. The ash content to the 1-mm litterbags indicated that this was largely due to transport of base-rich mineral soil into the litter. |
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Keywords: | Acid rain Mesofauna Decomposition Beech forest Calcareous soil Litterbag 14C-labelled beech leaf litter |
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