Canopy gap impacts on soil organic carbon and nutrient dynamic: a meta-analysis
Abstract Key message The forest canopy gaps, formed by natural or anthropogenic factors, have been found to reduce soil carbon content and increase nutrient availability. The magnitudes of these effects have been observed to increase with gap age and size, and are largely influenced by changes in te...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Annals of Forest Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-024-01224-z |
| _version_ | 1797272778340040704 |
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| author | Ran Tong Biyong Ji G. Geoff Wang Chenyang Lou Cong Ma Nianfu Zhu Wenwen Yuan Tonggui Wu |
| author_facet | Ran Tong Biyong Ji G. Geoff Wang Chenyang Lou Cong Ma Nianfu Zhu Wenwen Yuan Tonggui Wu |
| author_sort | Ran Tong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Key message The forest canopy gaps, formed by natural or anthropogenic factors, have been found to reduce soil carbon content and increase nutrient availability. The magnitudes of these effects have been observed to increase with gap age and size, and are largely influenced by changes in temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation. Context Local studies have illustrated the influence of canopy gaps on the spatial heterogeneity of soil carbon and nutrients, playing a pivotal role in driving forest regeneration and succession. Nevertheless, it remains largely unknown whether the response of soil carbon and nutrient content to gap formation is consistent across forest ecosystems at global scale. Aims The aim of this paper is to assess the homogeneity of the observed responses of soil carbon and nutrients following gap formation among a wide array of forest ecosystems and climatic regions. Methods We performed a meta-analysis synthesizing 2127 pairwise observations from 52 published articles to quantify the changes in in soil physical, chemical, and microbial variables resulting from gap creation in natural forests and plantations spanning tropical to boreal regions. Results Canopy gaps resulted in significant decrease of soil organic carbon (C org) and microbial carbon (C mic). The concentrations of ammonium (NH4 +), nitrate (NO3 −), and available phosphorus (available P) increased following gap creation. These changes mainly occurred in the growing season and in the mineral soil layer, becoming more pronounced with increasing gap age and size. The change in C org was negatively regulated by mean annual precipitation, and was associated with the changes in Nt and N mic . The change in NH4 + was positively regulated by mean annual temperature, and was associated with the changes in available P and oxidoreductases (Ox-EEAs). The model explaining the change in soil carbon content exhibited a higher explanatory power than the one accounting for changes in soil nutrient availability. Conclusion The results indicated that forest canopy gaps resulted in a reduction in soil carbon content and an increase in nutrient availability. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the role of small-scale disturbances as drivers of forest ecosystem succession. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:34:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa96e0c63931476980aafd702156d6c6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1297-966X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:34:14Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Forest Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa96e0c63931476980aafd702156d6c62024-03-05T20:46:25ZengBMCAnnals of Forest Science1297-966X2024-03-0181112310.1186/s13595-024-01224-zCanopy gap impacts on soil organic carbon and nutrient dynamic: a meta-analysisRan Tong0Biyong Ji1G. Geoff Wang2Chenyang Lou3Cong Ma4Nianfu Zhu5Wenwen Yuan6Tonggui Wu7East China Coastal Forest Ecosystem Long-Term Research Station, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of ForestryZhejiang Forest Resource Monitoring CenterDepartment of Forestry and Environment Conservation, Clemson UniversityEast China Coastal Forest Ecosystem Long-Term Research Station, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of ForestryEast China Coastal Forest Ecosystem Long-Term Research Station, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of ForestryEast China Coastal Forest Ecosystem Long-Term Research Station, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of ForestryEast China Coastal Forest Ecosystem Long-Term Research Station, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of ForestryEast China Coastal Forest Ecosystem Long-Term Research Station, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of ForestryAbstract Key message The forest canopy gaps, formed by natural or anthropogenic factors, have been found to reduce soil carbon content and increase nutrient availability. The magnitudes of these effects have been observed to increase with gap age and size, and are largely influenced by changes in temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation. Context Local studies have illustrated the influence of canopy gaps on the spatial heterogeneity of soil carbon and nutrients, playing a pivotal role in driving forest regeneration and succession. Nevertheless, it remains largely unknown whether the response of soil carbon and nutrient content to gap formation is consistent across forest ecosystems at global scale. Aims The aim of this paper is to assess the homogeneity of the observed responses of soil carbon and nutrients following gap formation among a wide array of forest ecosystems and climatic regions. Methods We performed a meta-analysis synthesizing 2127 pairwise observations from 52 published articles to quantify the changes in in soil physical, chemical, and microbial variables resulting from gap creation in natural forests and plantations spanning tropical to boreal regions. Results Canopy gaps resulted in significant decrease of soil organic carbon (C org) and microbial carbon (C mic). The concentrations of ammonium (NH4 +), nitrate (NO3 −), and available phosphorus (available P) increased following gap creation. These changes mainly occurred in the growing season and in the mineral soil layer, becoming more pronounced with increasing gap age and size. The change in C org was negatively regulated by mean annual precipitation, and was associated with the changes in Nt and N mic . The change in NH4 + was positively regulated by mean annual temperature, and was associated with the changes in available P and oxidoreductases (Ox-EEAs). The model explaining the change in soil carbon content exhibited a higher explanatory power than the one accounting for changes in soil nutrient availability. Conclusion The results indicated that forest canopy gaps resulted in a reduction in soil carbon content and an increase in nutrient availability. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the role of small-scale disturbances as drivers of forest ecosystem succession.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-024-01224-zCanopy gapsSoil organic matterNutrient cyclingTopsoil propertiesClimate effectsForest ecosystems |
| spellingShingle | Ran Tong Biyong Ji G. Geoff Wang Chenyang Lou Cong Ma Nianfu Zhu Wenwen Yuan Tonggui Wu Canopy gap impacts on soil organic carbon and nutrient dynamic: a meta-analysis Annals of Forest Science Canopy gaps Soil organic matter Nutrient cycling Topsoil properties Climate effects Forest ecosystems |
| title | Canopy gap impacts on soil organic carbon and nutrient dynamic: a meta-analysis |
| title_full | Canopy gap impacts on soil organic carbon and nutrient dynamic: a meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Canopy gap impacts on soil organic carbon and nutrient dynamic: a meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Canopy gap impacts on soil organic carbon and nutrient dynamic: a meta-analysis |
| title_short | Canopy gap impacts on soil organic carbon and nutrient dynamic: a meta-analysis |
| title_sort | canopy gap impacts on soil organic carbon and nutrient dynamic a meta analysis |
| topic | Canopy gaps Soil organic matter Nutrient cycling Topsoil properties Climate effects Forest ecosystems |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-024-01224-z |
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