Temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration of fine root litter in a temperate broad-leaved forest.

The microbial decomposition respiration of plant litter generates a major CO2 efflux from terrestrial ecosystems that plays a critical role in the regulation of carbon cycling on regional and global scales. However, the respiration from root litter decomposition and its sensitivity to temperature ch...

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Main Authors: Naoki Makita, Ayumi Kawamura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2015-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117694
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author Naoki Makita
Ayumi Kawamura
author_facet Naoki Makita
Ayumi Kawamura
author_sort Naoki Makita
collection DOAJ
description The microbial decomposition respiration of plant litter generates a major CO2 efflux from terrestrial ecosystems that plays a critical role in the regulation of carbon cycling on regional and global scales. However, the respiration from root litter decomposition and its sensitivity to temperature changes are unclear in current models of carbon turnover in forest soils. Thus, we examined seasonal changes in the temperature sensitivity and decomposition rates of fine root litter of two diameter classes (0-0.5 and 0.5-2.0 mm) of Quercus serrata and Ilex pedunculosa in a deciduous broad-leaved forest. During the study period, fine root litter of both diameter classes and species decreased approximately exponentially over time. The Q10 values of microbial respiration rates of root litter for the two classes were 1.59-3.31 and 1.28-6.27 for Q. serrata and 1.36-6.31 and 1.65-5.86 for I. pedunculosa. A significant difference in Q10 was observed between the diameter classes, indicating that root diameter represents the initial substrate quality, which may determine the magnitude of Q10 value of microbial respiration. Changes in these Q10 values were related to seasonal soil temperature patterns; the values were higher in winter than in summer. Moreover, seasonal variations in Q10 were larger during the 2-year decomposition period than the 1-year period. These results showed that the Q10 values of fine root litter of 0-0.5 and 0.5-2.0 mm have been shown to increase with lower temperatures and with the higher recalcitrance pool of the decomposed substrate during 2 years of decomposition. Thus, the temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration in root litter showed distinct patterns according to the decay period and season because of the temperature acclimation and adaptation of the microbial decomposer communities in root litter.
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spelling doaj.art-dab95a2e78774680b1a0121bad79355f2022-12-21T21:30:56ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-01102e011769410.1371/journal.pone.0117694Temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration of fine root litter in a temperate broad-leaved forest.Naoki MakitaAyumi KawamuraThe microbial decomposition respiration of plant litter generates a major CO2 efflux from terrestrial ecosystems that plays a critical role in the regulation of carbon cycling on regional and global scales. However, the respiration from root litter decomposition and its sensitivity to temperature changes are unclear in current models of carbon turnover in forest soils. Thus, we examined seasonal changes in the temperature sensitivity and decomposition rates of fine root litter of two diameter classes (0-0.5 and 0.5-2.0 mm) of Quercus serrata and Ilex pedunculosa in a deciduous broad-leaved forest. During the study period, fine root litter of both diameter classes and species decreased approximately exponentially over time. The Q10 values of microbial respiration rates of root litter for the two classes were 1.59-3.31 and 1.28-6.27 for Q. serrata and 1.36-6.31 and 1.65-5.86 for I. pedunculosa. A significant difference in Q10 was observed between the diameter classes, indicating that root diameter represents the initial substrate quality, which may determine the magnitude of Q10 value of microbial respiration. Changes in these Q10 values were related to seasonal soil temperature patterns; the values were higher in winter than in summer. Moreover, seasonal variations in Q10 were larger during the 2-year decomposition period than the 1-year period. These results showed that the Q10 values of fine root litter of 0-0.5 and 0.5-2.0 mm have been shown to increase with lower temperatures and with the higher recalcitrance pool of the decomposed substrate during 2 years of decomposition. Thus, the temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration in root litter showed distinct patterns according to the decay period and season because of the temperature acclimation and adaptation of the microbial decomposer communities in root litter.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117694
spellingShingle Naoki Makita
Ayumi Kawamura
Temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration of fine root litter in a temperate broad-leaved forest.
PLoS ONE
title Temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration of fine root litter in a temperate broad-leaved forest.
title_full Temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration of fine root litter in a temperate broad-leaved forest.
title_fullStr Temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration of fine root litter in a temperate broad-leaved forest.
title_full_unstemmed Temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration of fine root litter in a temperate broad-leaved forest.
title_short Temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration of fine root litter in a temperate broad-leaved forest.
title_sort temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration of fine root litter in a temperate broad leaved forest
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117694
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