Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Independent, Interactive, and Species-Specific Responses of Leaf Litter Decomposition to Elevated CO2 and O3 in a Northern Hardwood Forest

  • Published:
Ecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The future capacity of forest ecosystems to sequester atmospheric carbon is likely to be influenced by CO2-mediated shifts in nutrient cycling through changes in litter chemistry, and by interactions with pollutants like O3. We evaluated the independent and interactive effects of elevated CO2 (560 μl l−1) and O3 (55 nl l l−1) on leaf litter decomposition in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) and paper birch (Betula papyrifera) at the Aspen free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) site (Wisconsin, USA). Fumigation treatments consisted of replicated ambient, +CO2, +O3, and +CO2 + O3 FACE rings. We followed mass loss and litter chemistry over 23 months, using reciprocally transplanted litterbags to separate substrate quality from environment effects. Aspen decayed more slowly than birch across all treatment conditions, and changes in decomposition dynamics of both species were driven by shifts in substrate quality rather than by fumigation environment. Aspen litter produced under elevated CO2 decayed more slowly than litter produced under ambient CO2, and this effect was exacerbated by elevated O3. Similarly, birch litter produced under elevated CO2 also decayed more slowly than litter produced under ambient CO2. In contrast to results for aspen, however, elevated O3 accelerated birch decay under ambient CO2, but decelerated decay under enriched CO2. Changes in decomposition rates (k-values) were due to CO2- and O3-mediated shifts in litter quality, particularly levels of carbohydrates, nitrogen, and tannins. These results suggest that in early-successional forests of the future, elevated concentrations of CO2 will likely reduce leaf litter decomposition, although the magnitude of effect will vary among species and in response to interactions with tropospheric O3.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bartos DL, Debyle NV (1981) Quantity, decomposition, and nutrient dynamics of aspen litterfall in Utah. Forest Sci 27:381–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Berg B (2000) Initial rates and limit values for decomposition of Scots pine and Norway spruce needle litter: a synthesis for N-fertilized forest stands. Can J Forest Res 30:122–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berg B, Ekbohm G (1991) Litter mass-loss rates and decomposition patterns in some needle and leaf litter types. Long-term decomposition in a Scots pine forest. VII. Can J Bot 69:1449–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Berg B, Ekbohm G, Johansson M-B, McClaugherty C, Rutigliano F, Virzo De Santo A (1996) Maximum decomposition limits of forest litter types: a synthesis. Can J Bot 74:659–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blair JM (1988) Nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus dynamics in decomposing deciduous leaf litter in the southern Appalachians. Soil Biol Biochem 20:693–701

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bockheim JG, Jepsen EA, Heisey DM (1991) Nutrient dynamics in decomposing leaf litter of four tree species on a sandy soil in northwestern Wisconsin. Can J Forest Res 21:803–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burns RM, Honkala BH, Eds. 1990. Silvics of North America. 2. Hardwoods, Handbook 654. United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service

  • Chen HYH, Popadiouk RV (2002) Dynamics of North American boreal mixed woods. Environ Rev 10:137–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornelissen JHC, Perez-Harguindeguy N, Gwynn-Jones D, Diaz S, Callaghan TV, Aerts R (2000) Autumn leaf colours as indicators of decomposition rate in sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.). Plant Soil 225:33–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cotrufo MF, De Angelis P, Polle A (2005) Leaf litter production and decomposition in a poplar short-rotation coppice exposed to free air CO2 enrichment (POPFACE). Global Change Biol 11:971–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickson RE, Lewin KF, Isebrands JG, Coleman MD, Heilman WE, Riemenschneider DE, Sôber J, Host GE, Zak DR, Hendrey GR, Pregitzer KS, Karnosky DF. 2000. Forest atmosphere carbon transfer storage-II (FACTS II). The aspen free-air CO2 and O3 enrichment (FACE) project: an overview. USDA Forest Service, North Central Research Station. General Tech. Report NC-214. 68 pp

  • Dukes JS, Hungate BA (2002) Elevated CO2 and litter decomposition in California annual grasslands: which mechanisms matter? Ecosystems 5:171–83

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Filion M, Dutilleul P, Potvin C (2000) Optimum experimental design for free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) studies. Global Change Biol 6:843–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Findlay S, Carreiro M, Krischik V, Jones CG (1996) Effects of damage to living plants on leaf litter quality. Ecol Appl 6:269–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Findlay S, Jones CG (1990) Exposure of cottonwood plants to ozone alters subsequent leaf decomposition. Oecologia 82:248–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finzi AC, Allen AS, DeLucia EH, Ellsworth DS, Schlesinger WH (2001) Forest litter production, chemistry and decomposition, following two-years of free-air CO2 enrichment. Ecology 82:470–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Finzi AC, Schlesinger WH (2002) Species control variation in litter decomposition in a pine forest exposed to elevated CO2. Global Change Biol 8:1217–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giardina CP, Ryan MG, Hubbard RM, Binkley D (2001) Tree species and soil textural controls on carbon and nitrogen mineralization rates. Soil Sci Soc Am J 65:1272–9

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hogg EH, Brandt JP, Kochtubajda B (2002) Growth and dieback of aspen forests in northwestern Alberta, Canada, in relation to climate and insects. Can J Forest Res 32:823–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holmes WE, Zak DR, Pregitzer KS, King JS (2006) Elevated CO2 and O3 alter soil nitrogen transformations beneath trembling aspen, paper birch, and sugar maple. Ecosystems 9:1354–63

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Howard PJA, Howard DM (1974) Microbial decomposition of tree and shrub leaf litter. Oikos 25:341–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karnosky DF, Gielen B, Ceulemans R, Schlesinger WH, Norby RJ, Oksanen R, Matyssek R, Hendrey GR (2001) FACE systems for studying the impacts of greenhouse gases on forest ecosystems. In: Karnosky DF, Scarascia-Mugnozza G, Ceulemans R, Innes J (eds) The impact of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases on forest ecosystems. CAB International, Wallingford (UK), pp. 297–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Karnosky DF, Mankovska B, Percy K, Dickson RE, Podila GK, Sôber J, Noormets A, Hendrey G, Coleman MD, Kubiske M, Pregitzer KS, Isebrands JG (1999) Effects of tropospheric O3 on trembling aspen and interaction with CO2: results from an O3-gradient and a FACE experiment. Water Air Soil Pollut 116:311–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karnosky DF, Percy KE, Xiang B, Callan B, Noormets A, Mankovska B, Hopkin A, Sôber J, Jones W, Dickson RE, Isebrands JG (2002) Interacting elevated CO2 and tropospheric O3 and predisposes aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) to infection by rust (Melampsora medusae f. sp. tremuloidae). Global Change Biol 8:329–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karnosky DF, Pregitzer KS, Zak DR, Kubiske ME, Hendry GR, Weinstein D, Nosal M, Percy KE (2005) Scaling ozone responses of forest trees to the ecosystem level in a changing climate. Plant Cell Environ 28:965–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karnosky DF, Zak DR, Pregitzer KS, Awmack CS, Bockheim JG, Dickson RE, Hendrey GR, Host GE, King JS, Kopper BJ, Kruger EL, Kubiske ME, Lindroth RL, Mattson WJ, McDonald EP, Noormets A, Oksanen E, Parsons WFJ, Percy KE, Podila GK, Riemenschneider DE, Sharma P, Sôber A, Sôber J, Jones WS, Anttonen S, Thakur RC, Vapaavuori E, Mankovska B, Heilman W, Isebrands JG (2003) Tropospheric O3 moderates functional responses of temperate hardwood forests to elevated CO2: a synthesis of molecular to ecosystem results from the Aspen FACE project. Funct Ecol 17:289–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King JS, Pregitzer KS, Zak DR, Kubiske ME, Ashby JA, Holmes WE (2001) Chemistry and decomposition of litter from Populus tremuloides Michaux grown at elevated atmospheric CO2 and varying N availability. Global Change Biol 7:65–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koricheva J, Larsson S, Hankioja E, Keinanen M (1998) Regulation of woody plant secondary metabolism by resource availability: hypothesis testing by means of meta-analysis. Oikos 83:212–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kubiske ME, Quinn VS, Marquardt PE, Karnosky DF (2007) Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 and/or O3 on intra- and interspecific competitive ability of aspen. Plant Biol 9:342–55

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Latter PM, Howson G, Howard DM, Scott WA (1998) Long-term study of litter decomposition on a Pennine peat bog: which regression? Oecologia 113:94–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindroth RL, Kinney KK, Platz CL (1993) Responses of deciduous trees to elevated atmospheric CO2: productivity, phytochemistry and insect performance. Ecology 74:763–77

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lindroth RL, Osier TL, Barnhill HRH, Wood SA (2002) Effects of genotype and nutrient availability on phytochemistry of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) during leaf senescence. Biochem Syst Ecol 30:297–307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Littell RC, Milliken GA, Stroup WW, Wolfinger RD (1996) SAS system for mixed models. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu L, King JS, Giardina CP (2005) Effects of elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO2 and tropospheric O3 on leaf litter production and chemistry in trembling aspen and paper birch communities. Tree Physiol 25:1511–22

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loya WM, Pregitzer KS, Karberg NJ, King JS, Giardina CP (2003) Reduction of soil carbon formation by tropospheric ozone under increased carbon dioxide levels. Nature 425:705–7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mattson WJ, Julkoen-Tiitto R, Herms DA (2005) CO2 enrichment and carbon partitioning to phenolics: do plant responses accord better with the protein competition or the growth-differentiation balance models? Oikos 111:337–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Norby RJ, Long TM, Hartz-Rubin JS, O’Neill EG (2000) Nitrogen resorption in senescing tree leaves in a warmer, CO2-enriched atmosphere. Plant Soil 224:15–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olson JS (1963) Energy storage and the balance of producers and decomposition in ecological systems. Ecology 44:322–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons WFJ, Lindroth RL, Bockheim JG (2004) Decomposition of Betula papyrifera leaf litter under the independent and interactive effects of elevated CO2 and O3. Global Change Biol 10:1666–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peltonen PA, Vapaavuori E, Julkunen-Tiito R (2005) Accumulation of phenolic compounds in birch leaves is changed by elevated carbon dioxide and ozone. Global Change Biol 11:1305–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porter LJ, Hrstich LN, Chan BG (1986) The conversion of procyanidins and prodelphinidins to cyanidin and delphinidin. Phytochemistry 25:223–30

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prescott CE (2005) Do rates of litter decomposition tell us anything we really need to know? Forest Ecol Manag 220:66–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prescott CE, Vesterdal L, Preston CM, Simard SW (2004) Influence of initial chemistry on decomposition of foliar litter in contrasting forest types in British Columbia. Can J Forest Res 34:1714–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Randlett DL, Zak DR, Pregitzer KS, Curtis PS (1996) Elevated atmospheric CO2 and leaf litter chemistry: influences on microbial respiration and net N mineralization. Soil Sci Soc Am J 60:1571–7

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor BR, Parkinson D (1988) Annual differences in quality of leaf litter of aspen (Populus tremuloides) affecting rates of decomposition. Can J Bot 66:1940–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor BR, Parkinson D, Parsons WFJ (1989) A microcosm test of nitrogen and lignin content as predictors of litter decay rates. Ecology 70:97–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trofymow JA, Moore TR, Titus B, Prescott C, Morrison I, Siltanen M, Smith S, Fyles J, Wein R, Camiré C, Duchesne L, Kozak L, Kranabetter M, Visser S (2002) Rates of litter decomposition over 6 years in Canadian forests: influence of litter quality and climate. Can J Forest Res 32:789–804

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valachovic VS, Caldwell BA, Cromack Jr K, Griffiths RP (2004) Leaf litter chemistry controls on decomposition of Pacific Northwest trees and woody shrubs. Can J Forest Res 34:2131–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Cleve K (1971) Energy- and weight-loss functions for decomposing foliage in birch and aspen forests in interior Alaska. Ecology 52:720–3

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Research funds were provided by a US Department of Energy grant (DE-FG02-98ER62680) to RLL and JGB, and a US Department of Agriculture grant (NRI 95-37302-1810) to RLL. Aspen FACE is supported principally by the Office of Science (BER), US Department of Energy (DE-FG02-95ER62125), the US Forest Service Northern Global Change Program and North Central Research Station, Michigan Technological University, and Natural Resources Canada—Canadian Forest Service. We thank the Aspen-FACE steering committee and site operators, Jaak Sôber and Scott Jacobsen, for providing access to the facility. For their help in collecting, processing, and analyzing litter, we thank Adam Gusse, and especially Heidi Barnhill, who rode herd on our army of undergraduate assistants (Daniel Beisner, Michael Drews, Beth Kazlauskas, Kari Klasen, Kelly Krein, Nasuh Malas, Melissa Naub, Laura Riel, Joshua Rudinsky, Lindsay Wieczorek, Sarah Wood, and Kathryn Zachman). We thank Matthias Jaime for creating the figures. Edward Rastetter and two anonymous reviewers provided helpful reviews of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA

    William F. J. Parsons & Richard L. Lindroth

  2. Department of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA

    William F. J. Parsons & James G. Bockheim

  3. Centre d’Étude de la Forêt (CEF), Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500, Boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, J1K 2R1

    William F. J. Parsons

Authors
  1. William F. J. Parsons
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James G. Bockheim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Richard L. Lindroth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to William F. J. Parsons.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Parsons, W.F.J., Bockheim, J.G. & Lindroth, R.L. Independent, Interactive, and Species-Specific Responses of Leaf Litter Decomposition to Elevated CO2 and O3 in a Northern Hardwood Forest. Ecosystems 11, 505–519 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-008-9148-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-008-9148-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation