Global patterns and drivers of coniferous leaf-litter decomposition in streams and rivers
Many streams and rivers are heterotrophic ecosystems that are highly dependent on cross-ecosystem subsidies such as leaf litter (LL). Terrestrial LL can be consumed by macroinvertebrates and microbes to fuel the detrital-based food webs in freshwaters. To date, our knowledge of LL decomposition in f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.940254/full |
| _version_ | 1818476991674843136 |
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| author | Hongyong Xiang Kun Li Lina Cao Zhenxing Zhang Zhenxing Zhang Haijun Yang |
| author_facet | Hongyong Xiang Kun Li Lina Cao Zhenxing Zhang Zhenxing Zhang Haijun Yang |
| author_sort | Hongyong Xiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many streams and rivers are heterotrophic ecosystems that are highly dependent on cross-ecosystem subsidies such as leaf litter (LL). Terrestrial LL can be consumed by macroinvertebrates and microbes to fuel the detrital-based food webs in freshwaters. To date, our knowledge of LL decomposition in freshwaters is largely based on broadleaved LL, while the patterns and drivers of coniferous leaf-litter (CLL) decomposition in streams and rivers remain poorly understood. Here, we present a global investigation of CLL decomposition in streams and rivers by collecting data from 35 publications. We compared LL breakdown rates in this study with other global-scale studies (including conifers and broadleaved species), between evergreen and deciduous conifers, and between native and invasive conifers. We also investigated the climatic, geographic (latitude and altitude), stream physicochemical characteristics, and experimental factors (e.g., mesh size and experimental duration) in influencing CLL decomposition. We found that the following: (1) LL breakdown rates in this study were 18.5–28.8 and 4.9–16.8% slower than those in other global-scale studies when expressed as per day and per degree day, respectively. Conifer LL in coarse mesh bags, for evergreen and invasive conifers, decomposed 13.6, 10.3, and 10.8% faster than in fine mesh bags, for deciduous and native conifers, respectively; (2) CLL traits, stream physicochemical characteristics, and experimental factors explained higher variations in CLL decomposition than climatic and geographic factors; (3) CLL nutritional quality (N and P), water temperature, and experimental duration were better predictors of CLL decomposition than other predictors in categories of LL traits, stream physicochemical characteristics, and experimental factors, respectively; and (4) total and microbial-mediated CLL breakdown rates showed linear relationships with latitude, altitude, mean annual temperature, and mean annual precipitation. Our results imply that the replacement of native forests by conifer plantation would impose great impacts on adjacent freshwaters by retarding the LL processing rate. Moreover, future climate warming which is very likely to happen in mid- and high-latitude areas according to the IPCC 6th report would accelerate LL decomposition, with a potential consequence of food depletion for detritivores in freshwaters during hot summers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T09:32:19Z |
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| id | doaj.art-ba45c852f9e7475c811eda169b3bbdb8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T09:32:19Z |
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| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba45c852f9e7475c811eda169b3bbdb82022-12-22T01:54:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2022-07-011010.3389/fevo.2022.940254940254Global patterns and drivers of coniferous leaf-litter decomposition in streams and riversHongyong Xiang0Kun Li1Lina Cao2Zhenxing Zhang3Zhenxing Zhang4Haijun Yang5School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, ChinaHeilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration and Resource Utilization for Cold Region, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, ChinaState Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, ChinaState Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, ChinaKey Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Ministry of Education, Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, ChinaMany streams and rivers are heterotrophic ecosystems that are highly dependent on cross-ecosystem subsidies such as leaf litter (LL). Terrestrial LL can be consumed by macroinvertebrates and microbes to fuel the detrital-based food webs in freshwaters. To date, our knowledge of LL decomposition in freshwaters is largely based on broadleaved LL, while the patterns and drivers of coniferous leaf-litter (CLL) decomposition in streams and rivers remain poorly understood. Here, we present a global investigation of CLL decomposition in streams and rivers by collecting data from 35 publications. We compared LL breakdown rates in this study with other global-scale studies (including conifers and broadleaved species), between evergreen and deciduous conifers, and between native and invasive conifers. We also investigated the climatic, geographic (latitude and altitude), stream physicochemical characteristics, and experimental factors (e.g., mesh size and experimental duration) in influencing CLL decomposition. We found that the following: (1) LL breakdown rates in this study were 18.5–28.8 and 4.9–16.8% slower than those in other global-scale studies when expressed as per day and per degree day, respectively. Conifer LL in coarse mesh bags, for evergreen and invasive conifers, decomposed 13.6, 10.3, and 10.8% faster than in fine mesh bags, for deciduous and native conifers, respectively; (2) CLL traits, stream physicochemical characteristics, and experimental factors explained higher variations in CLL decomposition than climatic and geographic factors; (3) CLL nutritional quality (N and P), water temperature, and experimental duration were better predictors of CLL decomposition than other predictors in categories of LL traits, stream physicochemical characteristics, and experimental factors, respectively; and (4) total and microbial-mediated CLL breakdown rates showed linear relationships with latitude, altitude, mean annual temperature, and mean annual precipitation. Our results imply that the replacement of native forests by conifer plantation would impose great impacts on adjacent freshwaters by retarding the LL processing rate. Moreover, future climate warming which is very likely to happen in mid- and high-latitude areas according to the IPCC 6th report would accelerate LL decomposition, with a potential consequence of food depletion for detritivores in freshwaters during hot summers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.940254/fullleaf-litter traitecosystem functioningwater temperatureleaf-litter breakdown ratelatitudefreshwater |
| spellingShingle | Hongyong Xiang Kun Li Lina Cao Zhenxing Zhang Zhenxing Zhang Haijun Yang Global patterns and drivers of coniferous leaf-litter decomposition in streams and rivers Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution leaf-litter trait ecosystem functioning water temperature leaf-litter breakdown rate latitude freshwater |
| title | Global patterns and drivers of coniferous leaf-litter decomposition in streams and rivers |
| title_full | Global patterns and drivers of coniferous leaf-litter decomposition in streams and rivers |
| title_fullStr | Global patterns and drivers of coniferous leaf-litter decomposition in streams and rivers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global patterns and drivers of coniferous leaf-litter decomposition in streams and rivers |
| title_short | Global patterns and drivers of coniferous leaf-litter decomposition in streams and rivers |
| title_sort | global patterns and drivers of coniferous leaf litter decomposition in streams and rivers |
| topic | leaf-litter trait ecosystem functioning water temperature leaf-litter breakdown rate latitude freshwater |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.940254/full |
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