Multiple nutrients limit litterfall and decomposition in a tropical forest

被引：374

作者：

Kaspari, Michael ^{[1
,2
]}

Garcia, Milton N. ^{[2
]}

Harms, Kyle E. ^{[2
,3
]}

Santana, Mirna ^{[4
]}

Wright, S. Joseph ^{[2
]}

Yavitt, Joseph B. ^{[5
]}

机构：

[1] Univ Oklahoma, Dept Zool, EEB Grad Program, Norman, OK 73019 USA

[2] Smithsonian Trop Res Inst, Balboa 084303092, Panama

[3] Louisiana State Univ, Dept Biol, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA

[4] Univ Wisconsin, Dept Biol Sci, Milwaukee, WI 53201 USA

[5] Cornell Univ, Dept Nat Resources, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA

来源：

ECOLOGY LETTERS | 2008年 / 11卷 / 01期

关键词：

carbon cycle; decomposition; fungi; K; Liebig's law of the minimum; litter; Mg; micronutrients; N; P; reproduction; tropical forest; Zn;

D O I：

10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01124.x

中图分类号：

Q14 [生态学（生物生态学）];

学科分类号：

071012 ; 0713 ;

摘要：

To explore the importance of 12 elements in litter production and decomposition, we fertilized 36 1600 m(2)-plots with combinations of N, P, K, or micronutrients (i.e. B, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, S, Zn) for 6 years in a lowland Panamanian forest. The 90% of litter falling as leaves and twigs failed to increase with fertilization, but reproductive litter (fruits and flowers) increased by 43% with N. K enhanced cellulose decomposition; one or more micronutrients enhanced leaf-litter decomposition; P enhanced both. Our results suggest tropical forests are a non-Liebig world of multiple nutrient limitations, with at least four elements shaping rates of litterfall and decomposition. Multiple metallomic enzymes and cofactors likely create gradients in the break down of leaf litter. Selection favours individuals that make more propagules, and even in an N-rich forest, N is a non-substitutable resource for reproduction.

引用

页码：35 / 43

页数：9

共 65 条

[11] FINE-ROOT BIOMASS AND SOIL PROPERTIES IN A SEMIDECIDUOUS AND A LOWER MONTANE RAIN-FOREST IN PANAMA [J].