• Different tree species influence litter decomposition directly through species-specific litter traits, and indirectly by distinctly modifying the local decomposition environment. Whether these indirect effects on decomposition are influenced by tree species diversity is presently not well known. • We addressed this question by studying the decomposition of two common substrates, cellulose paper and wood sticks, in a total of 209 forest stands of varying tree species diversity across six major forest types at the scale of Europe. • Tree species richness showed a weak but positive correlation with the decomposition of cellulose but not with that of wood. Surprisingly, macroclimate had only a minor effect on cellulose decomposition and none on wood decomposition despite the wide range in climatic conditions among sites from Mediterranean to boreal forests. Instead, forest canopy density and stand-specific litter traits affected the decomposition of both substrates. • Our study suggests that species richness and functional composition of tree canopies modify decomposition indirectly by changes in micro-environmental conditions. These canopy-induced differences in the local decomposition environment control decomposition more than continental-scale differences in macroclimatic conditions

Tree species diversity affects decomposition through modified micro-environmental conditions across European forests / Joly, François-Xavier; Milcu, Alexandru; Scherer-Lorenzen, Michael; Jean, Loreline-Katia; Bussotti, Filippo; Dawud, Seid Muhie; Müller, Sandra; Pollastrini, Martina; Raulund-Rasmussen, Karsten; Vesterdal, Lars; Hättenschwiler, Stephan. - In: NEW PHYTOLOGIST. - ISSN 0028-646X. - STAMPA. - 214:(2017), pp. 1281-1293. [10.1111/nph.14452]

Tree species diversity affects decomposition through modified micro-environmental conditions across European forests

BUSSOTTI, FILIPPO;POLLASTRINI, MARTINA;
2017

Abstract

• Different tree species influence litter decomposition directly through species-specific litter traits, and indirectly by distinctly modifying the local decomposition environment. Whether these indirect effects on decomposition are influenced by tree species diversity is presently not well known. • We addressed this question by studying the decomposition of two common substrates, cellulose paper and wood sticks, in a total of 209 forest stands of varying tree species diversity across six major forest types at the scale of Europe. • Tree species richness showed a weak but positive correlation with the decomposition of cellulose but not with that of wood. Surprisingly, macroclimate had only a minor effect on cellulose decomposition and none on wood decomposition despite the wide range in climatic conditions among sites from Mediterranean to boreal forests. Instead, forest canopy density and stand-specific litter traits affected the decomposition of both substrates. • Our study suggests that species richness and functional composition of tree canopies modify decomposition indirectly by changes in micro-environmental conditions. These canopy-induced differences in the local decomposition environment control decomposition more than continental-scale differences in macroclimatic conditions
2017
214
1281
1293
Joly, François-Xavier; Milcu, Alexandru; Scherer-Lorenzen, Michael; Jean, Loreline-Katia; Bussotti, Filippo; Dawud, Seid Muhie; Müller, Sandra; Pollastrini, Martina; Raulund-Rasmussen, Karsten; Vesterdal, Lars; Hättenschwiler, Stephan
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1081540
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