The effect of macro-invertebrates and plant litter of different quality on the release of N from litter to plant on alpine pastureland |
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Authors: | Julia Seeber G. U. H. Seeber Reinhard Langel Stefan Scheu Erwin Meyer |
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Affiliation: | 1.Department of Terrestrial Ecology and Taxonomy, Institute of Ecology,University of Innsbruck,Innsbruck,Austria;2.Social Science Methods Group,University of Innsbruck,Innsbruck,Austria;3.Kompetenzzentrum Stabile Isotope, Forschungszentrum Wald?kosysteme,Universit?t G?ttingen,G?ttingen,Germany;4.Institute of Zoology,Technische Universit?t Darmstadt,Darmstadt,Germany |
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Abstract: | The effect of 15N-labelled litter of different quality (Luzula sylvatica, a grass species, Vaccinium gaultheroides, a deciduous dwarf shrub, and Calluna vulgaris, a hardy dwarf shrub) and the presence of macro-decomposers (Lumbricus rubellus, Lumbricidae, and Enantiulus nanus, Diplopoda) on the growth of Dactylis glomerata (Poaceae), a grass species abundant on alpine pastureland, was investigated. After 4 months, the presence of soil animals significantly increased litter mass loss of L. sylvatica, V. gaultheroides and C. vulgaris by 27%, 11% and 40%, respectively. Soil animals generally reduced microbial biomass but significantly increased it in treatments where either L. sylvatica or C. vulgaris was present. The presence of soil animals significantly increased shoot and root biomass of D. glomerata by 48% and 64%, respectively. L. rubellus increased the transfer of 15N from the litter into plants. We conclude that macro-decomposers increased nutrient mobilization and plant uptake of nutrients mineralized from recalcitrant litter materials. Litter of L. sylvatica contributed most to the 15N uptake by D. glomerata, suggesting that litter quality is crucial for the cycling of nutrients on abandoned alpine pastureland. |
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Keywords: | Decomposition Plant growth 15N-labelled litter Macro-decomposers Alpine pastureland |
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