Acid Hydrolysable Components Released from Four Decomposing Litter in an Alpine Forest in Sichuan, China
Acid hydrolysable components have been thought to release from plant litter at early periods of decomposition and to be sensitive to hydrological change. Variations in snow depth and timing may alter the release of acid hydrolysable components from decomposing litter in seasonally snow-covered ecosy...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/6/876 |
| _version_ | 1797487347979255808 |
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| author | Shu Liao Kai Yue Xiangyin Ni Fuzhong Wu |
| author_facet | Shu Liao Kai Yue Xiangyin Ni Fuzhong Wu |
| author_sort | Shu Liao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Acid hydrolysable components have been thought to release from plant litter at early periods of decomposition and to be sensitive to hydrological change. Variations in snow depth and timing may alter the release of acid hydrolysable components from decomposing litter in seasonally snow-covered ecosystems. Here, we measured the release of acid hydrolyzable components from four foliar litters (fir, cypress, larch and birch) in deep and shallow snow plots during winter (snow formation, snow coverage and snowmelt stages) and growing seasons in an alpine forest from 2012 to 2016. We found that the content of acid hydrolysable components was 16–21% in fresh litter across species, and only 4–5% of these components remained in the litter after four years of decomposition when 53–66% of litter mass was lost. The content of acid hydrolysable components greatly decreased within 41 days and during the growing seasons of the fourth year of decomposition, suggesting that acid hydrolysable components in plant litter are not only released at early periods but also at a very late period during litter decay. However, the content of acid hydrolysable components increased significantly at snowmelt stages. Reduced snow cover increased the content and remaining level of acid hydrolysable components during the four years of decomposition by altering leaching, microbial biomass and stoichiometry. We propose that more effective partitioning of chemical fractions should be incorporated to distinguish the carbon and nutrient release during litter decomposition within a complex context of the changing environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:47:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-08174a05f04a43a8ac80aa4cb45405fc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:47:20Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-08174a05f04a43a8ac80aa4cb45405fc2023-11-23T16:40:37ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-06-0113687610.3390/f13060876Acid Hydrolysable Components Released from Four Decomposing Litter in an Alpine Forest in Sichuan, ChinaShu Liao0Kai Yue1Xiangyin Ni2Fuzhong Wu3Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, ChinaKey Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, ChinaKey Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, ChinaKey Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, ChinaAcid hydrolysable components have been thought to release from plant litter at early periods of decomposition and to be sensitive to hydrological change. Variations in snow depth and timing may alter the release of acid hydrolysable components from decomposing litter in seasonally snow-covered ecosystems. Here, we measured the release of acid hydrolyzable components from four foliar litters (fir, cypress, larch and birch) in deep and shallow snow plots during winter (snow formation, snow coverage and snowmelt stages) and growing seasons in an alpine forest from 2012 to 2016. We found that the content of acid hydrolysable components was 16–21% in fresh litter across species, and only 4–5% of these components remained in the litter after four years of decomposition when 53–66% of litter mass was lost. The content of acid hydrolysable components greatly decreased within 41 days and during the growing seasons of the fourth year of decomposition, suggesting that acid hydrolysable components in plant litter are not only released at early periods but also at a very late period during litter decay. However, the content of acid hydrolysable components increased significantly at snowmelt stages. Reduced snow cover increased the content and remaining level of acid hydrolysable components during the four years of decomposition by altering leaching, microbial biomass and stoichiometry. We propose that more effective partitioning of chemical fractions should be incorporated to distinguish the carbon and nutrient release during litter decomposition within a complex context of the changing environment.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/6/876acid hydrolysable componentslitter decompositionsnow coverwinter |
| spellingShingle | Shu Liao Kai Yue Xiangyin Ni Fuzhong Wu Acid Hydrolysable Components Released from Four Decomposing Litter in an Alpine Forest in Sichuan, China Forests acid hydrolysable components litter decomposition snow cover winter |
| title | Acid Hydrolysable Components Released from Four Decomposing Litter in an Alpine Forest in Sichuan, China |
| title_full | Acid Hydrolysable Components Released from Four Decomposing Litter in an Alpine Forest in Sichuan, China |
| title_fullStr | Acid Hydrolysable Components Released from Four Decomposing Litter in an Alpine Forest in Sichuan, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Acid Hydrolysable Components Released from Four Decomposing Litter in an Alpine Forest in Sichuan, China |
| title_short | Acid Hydrolysable Components Released from Four Decomposing Litter in an Alpine Forest in Sichuan, China |
| title_sort | acid hydrolysable components released from four decomposing litter in an alpine forest in sichuan china |
| topic | acid hydrolysable components litter decomposition snow cover winter |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/6/876 |
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