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Leaf economics spectrum prevails over nutrient resorption in regulating the temperature sensitivity of litter decomposition in a subtropical forest ecosystem

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Abstract

The LES and nutrient resorption are thought to jointly modulate leaf litter traits, including the litter decomposition, but it is unknown how the two factors affect the temperature sensitivity of litter decomposition (Q10). The Q10 of litter decomposition was evaluated for 15 co-occurring subtropical woody species under laboratory conditions. The LES of these species, as well as species-specific N (NRE) and P resorption efficiency (PRE) during leaf senescence, were also determined. Results showed that the Q10 values were significantly correlated to LES, with litters from resource-conservative species having higher Q10 values than those from resource-acquisitive species. Among the parameters characterizing LES, leaf N concentration, C:N ratio, and lignin:N ratio were correlated to Q10, whereas leaf P and lignin concentrations, specific leaf area, and C:P ratio showed no relationships. The LES was correlated to litter C:N and lignin:N ratios, and, in turn, litter C:N and lignin:N ratios were correlated to Q10. This result suggested that LES affects litter quality and thus the Q10 of litter decomposition. However, NRE and PRE were not correlated to Q10. In addition, the LES effects on litter quality and the Q10 of decomposition did not depend on nutrient resorption, as indicated by the lack of correlation between LES and NRE or PRE. Our results reveal an association between plant functional features and forest C dynamics in a warmer future.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Xiuyong Zhang, Xiaojun Yu, Ke Huang, Dan Yu, Ruihan Zhang, and Xingxing Zhao for their invaluable assistance in the laboratory and the fieldwork.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. U22A20612), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant Nos. 2021YFD2201303 and 2022YFF1303003), and the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province (202300410287).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of life Science, Luoyang Normal University, Luoyang, 471934, China

    Renshan Li, Yu Wang, Congying Yuan & Jianming Han

  2. Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang, 110016, China

    Weidong Zhang, Qingkui Wang, Xin Guan, Longchi Chen, Silong Wang & Qingpeng Yang

  3. Huitong National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Huitong, 418307, China

    Weidong Zhang, Qingkui Wang, Xin Guan, Longchi Chen, Silong Wang & Qingpeng Yang

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  1. Renshan Li
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Li, R., Wang, Y., Yuan, C. et al. Leaf economics spectrum prevails over nutrient resorption in regulating the temperature sensitivity of litter decomposition in a subtropical forest ecosystem. Biol Fertil Soils 59, 901–910 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-023-01758-w

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