Leaf litter decomposition rates: influence of successional age, topography and microenvironment on six dominant tree species in a tropical dry forest
Litter decomposition is a central process in forest ecosystems because of its role in carbon and nutrient cycling and maintaining soil fertility. Decomposition is affected by plant traits, soil and microenvironmental conditions, topography, and vegetation structure, which varies with successional ag...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Forests and Global Change |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2023.1082233/full |
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| author | Hernán Morffi-Mestre Gregorio Ángeles-Pérez Jennifer S. Powers José Luis Andrade Richard Evan Feldman Filogonio May-Pat Francisco Chi-May Juan Manuel Dupuy-Rada |
| author_facet | Hernán Morffi-Mestre Gregorio Ángeles-Pérez Jennifer S. Powers José Luis Andrade Richard Evan Feldman Filogonio May-Pat Francisco Chi-May Juan Manuel Dupuy-Rada |
| author_sort | Hernán Morffi-Mestre |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Litter decomposition is a central process in forest ecosystems because of its role in carbon and nutrient cycling and maintaining soil fertility. Decomposition is affected by plant traits, soil and microenvironmental conditions, topography, and vegetation structure, which varies with successional age. However, it is unclear how all these factors affect leaf decomposition of dominant tree species in tropical dry forests (TDFs). The objective of this study was to compare the decomposition rates of six dominant tree species: three legumes (Caesalpinia gaumeri, Lysiloma latisiliquum, Piscidia piscipula) and three non-legumes (Bursera simaruba, Gymnopodium floribundum, Neomillspaughia emarginata) in five successional age categories (8–10, 15–22, 23–30, 65–84, > 85 years-old) and two topographic conditions (flat and sloping sites) in a TDF, and to analyze the association with leaf traits (toughness, N, C and total phenols content) soil properties (bulk density, organic carbon, pH, clay), microenvironmental (litter and soil moisture, leaf area index), and vegetation variables (basal area, aboveground biomass, tree diameter, tree height). Litterbags were placed in 30–400 m2 circular plots distributed in forests of the Yucatan, Mexico, and collected on six occasions spread over 230 days (540 samples per species). L. latisiliquum and C. gaumeri had the highest decomposition rates (as well as leaf nitrogen concentration and the lowest leaf toughness). Conversely, G. floribundum had the lowest decay rate. Decomposition rate reached high values at intermediate successional ages, suggesting that soil fertility recovers rapidly after disturbance, although only L. latisiliquum showed significant differences among stand age categories. Decomposition rate was consistently higher at flat sites than on slopes but the difference was significant only for L. latisiliquum. The soil, vegetation structure and microenvironmental variables that contributed most to explaining variation in decay rates varied among species. Decomposition tended to increase with soil moisture and clay content, and to decrease with soil organic carbon and pH suggesting susceptibility to climate change and soil erosion, particularly in sloping areas. Our results highlight the importance of analyzing species-specific responses, especially for dominant species, which likely contribute most to leaf litter decomposition, and to consider key ecological factors that influence this key process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:11:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ddf7ef6270eb413fb41c464709c16df5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-893X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:11:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Forests and Global Change |
| spelling | doaj.art-ddf7ef6270eb413fb41c464709c16df52023-05-12T08:09:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Forests and Global Change2624-893X2023-05-01610.3389/ffgc.2023.10822331082233Leaf litter decomposition rates: influence of successional age, topography and microenvironment on six dominant tree species in a tropical dry forestHernán Morffi-Mestre0Gregorio Ángeles-Pérez1Jennifer S. Powers2José Luis Andrade3Richard Evan Feldman4Filogonio May-Pat5Francisco Chi-May6Juan Manuel Dupuy-Rada7Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoPostgrado en Ciencias Forestales, Colegio de Postgraduados, Texcoco, State of Mexico, MexicoDepartments of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior and Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United StatesUnidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoWildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, ON, CanadaUnidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoUnidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoUnidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoLitter decomposition is a central process in forest ecosystems because of its role in carbon and nutrient cycling and maintaining soil fertility. Decomposition is affected by plant traits, soil and microenvironmental conditions, topography, and vegetation structure, which varies with successional age. However, it is unclear how all these factors affect leaf decomposition of dominant tree species in tropical dry forests (TDFs). The objective of this study was to compare the decomposition rates of six dominant tree species: three legumes (Caesalpinia gaumeri, Lysiloma latisiliquum, Piscidia piscipula) and three non-legumes (Bursera simaruba, Gymnopodium floribundum, Neomillspaughia emarginata) in five successional age categories (8–10, 15–22, 23–30, 65–84, > 85 years-old) and two topographic conditions (flat and sloping sites) in a TDF, and to analyze the association with leaf traits (toughness, N, C and total phenols content) soil properties (bulk density, organic carbon, pH, clay), microenvironmental (litter and soil moisture, leaf area index), and vegetation variables (basal area, aboveground biomass, tree diameter, tree height). Litterbags were placed in 30–400 m2 circular plots distributed in forests of the Yucatan, Mexico, and collected on six occasions spread over 230 days (540 samples per species). L. latisiliquum and C. gaumeri had the highest decomposition rates (as well as leaf nitrogen concentration and the lowest leaf toughness). Conversely, G. floribundum had the lowest decay rate. Decomposition rate reached high values at intermediate successional ages, suggesting that soil fertility recovers rapidly after disturbance, although only L. latisiliquum showed significant differences among stand age categories. Decomposition rate was consistently higher at flat sites than on slopes but the difference was significant only for L. latisiliquum. The soil, vegetation structure and microenvironmental variables that contributed most to explaining variation in decay rates varied among species. Decomposition tended to increase with soil moisture and clay content, and to decrease with soil organic carbon and pH suggesting susceptibility to climate change and soil erosion, particularly in sloping areas. Our results highlight the importance of analyzing species-specific responses, especially for dominant species, which likely contribute most to leaf litter decomposition, and to consider key ecological factors that influence this key process.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2023.1082233/fullannual decomposition rateleaf composition and toughnesstree legume specieslitter moisturesecondary successionslope |
| spellingShingle | Hernán Morffi-Mestre Gregorio Ángeles-Pérez Jennifer S. Powers José Luis Andrade Richard Evan Feldman Filogonio May-Pat Francisco Chi-May Juan Manuel Dupuy-Rada Leaf litter decomposition rates: influence of successional age, topography and microenvironment on six dominant tree species in a tropical dry forest Frontiers in Forests and Global Change annual decomposition rate leaf composition and toughness tree legume species litter moisture secondary succession slope |
| title | Leaf litter decomposition rates: influence of successional age, topography and microenvironment on six dominant tree species in a tropical dry forest |
| title_full | Leaf litter decomposition rates: influence of successional age, topography and microenvironment on six dominant tree species in a tropical dry forest |
| title_fullStr | Leaf litter decomposition rates: influence of successional age, topography and microenvironment on six dominant tree species in a tropical dry forest |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leaf litter decomposition rates: influence of successional age, topography and microenvironment on six dominant tree species in a tropical dry forest |
| title_short | Leaf litter decomposition rates: influence of successional age, topography and microenvironment on six dominant tree species in a tropical dry forest |
| title_sort | leaf litter decomposition rates influence of successional age topography and microenvironment on six dominant tree species in a tropical dry forest |
| topic | annual decomposition rate leaf composition and toughness tree legume species litter moisture secondary succession slope |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2023.1082233/full |
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