Potential macro-detritivore range expansion into the subarctic stimulates litter decomposition: a new positive feedback mechanism to climate change?
As a result of low decomposition rates, high-latitude ecosystems store large amounts of carbon. Litter decomposition in these ecosystems is constrained by harsh abiotic conditions, but also by the absence of macro-detritivores. We have studied the potential effects of their climate change-driven nor...
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ftpubmed:oai:pubmedcentral.nih.gov:3213348 2023-05-15T18:28:00+02:00 Potential macro-detritivore range expansion into the subarctic stimulates litter decomposition: a new positive feedback mechanism to climate change? van Geffen, Koert G. Berg, Matty P. Aerts, Rien 2011-07-07 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3213348 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21735203 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-011-2051-8 en eng Springer-Verlag http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3213348 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21735203 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00442-011-2051-8 © The Author(s) 2011 Global change ecology - Original Paper Text 2011 ftpubmed https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-011-2051-8 2013-09-03T22:24:54Z As a result of low decomposition rates, high-latitude ecosystems store large amounts of carbon. Litter decomposition in these ecosystems is constrained by harsh abiotic conditions, but also by the absence of macro-detritivores. We have studied the potential effects of their climate change-driven northward range expansion on the decomposition of two contrasting subarctic litter types. Litter of Alnus incana and Betula pubescens was incubated in microcosms together with monocultures and all possible combinations of three functionally different macro-detritivores (the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus, isopod Oniscus asellus, and millipede Julus scandinavius). Our results show that these macro-detritivores stimulated decomposition, especially of the high-quality A. incana litter and that the macro-detritivores tested differed in their decomposition-stimulating effects, with earthworms having the largest influence. Decomposition processes increased with increasing number of macro-detritivore species, and positive net diveristy effects occurred in several macro-detritivore treatments. However, after correction for macro-detritivore biomass, all interspecific differences in macro-detritivore effects, as well as the positive effects of species number on subarctic litter decomposition disappeared. The net diversity effects also appeared to be driven by variation in biomass, with a possible exception of net diversity effects in mass loss. Based on these results, we conclude that the expected climate change-induced range expansion of macro-detritivores into subarctic regions is likely to result in accelerated decomposition rates. Our results also indicate that the magnitude of macro-detritivore effects on subarctic decomposition will mainly depend on macro-detritivore biomass, rather than on macro-detritivore species number or identity. Text Subarctic PubMed Central (PMC) Oecologia 167 4 1163 1175 |
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English |
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Global change ecology - Original Paper |
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Global change ecology - Original Paper van Geffen, Koert G. Berg, Matty P. Aerts, Rien Potential macro-detritivore range expansion into the subarctic stimulates litter decomposition: a new positive feedback mechanism to climate change? |
topic_facet |
Global change ecology - Original Paper |
description |
As a result of low decomposition rates, high-latitude ecosystems store large amounts of carbon. Litter decomposition in these ecosystems is constrained by harsh abiotic conditions, but also by the absence of macro-detritivores. We have studied the potential effects of their climate change-driven northward range expansion on the decomposition of two contrasting subarctic litter types. Litter of Alnus incana and Betula pubescens was incubated in microcosms together with monocultures and all possible combinations of three functionally different macro-detritivores (the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus, isopod Oniscus asellus, and millipede Julus scandinavius). Our results show that these macro-detritivores stimulated decomposition, especially of the high-quality A. incana litter and that the macro-detritivores tested differed in their decomposition-stimulating effects, with earthworms having the largest influence. Decomposition processes increased with increasing number of macro-detritivore species, and positive net diveristy effects occurred in several macro-detritivore treatments. However, after correction for macro-detritivore biomass, all interspecific differences in macro-detritivore effects, as well as the positive effects of species number on subarctic litter decomposition disappeared. The net diversity effects also appeared to be driven by variation in biomass, with a possible exception of net diversity effects in mass loss. Based on these results, we conclude that the expected climate change-induced range expansion of macro-detritivores into subarctic regions is likely to result in accelerated decomposition rates. Our results also indicate that the magnitude of macro-detritivore effects on subarctic decomposition will mainly depend on macro-detritivore biomass, rather than on macro-detritivore species number or identity. |
format |
Text |
author |
van Geffen, Koert G. Berg, Matty P. Aerts, Rien |
author_facet |
van Geffen, Koert G. Berg, Matty P. Aerts, Rien |
author_sort |
van Geffen, Koert G. |
title |
Potential macro-detritivore range expansion into the subarctic stimulates litter decomposition: a new positive feedback mechanism to climate change? |
title_short |
Potential macro-detritivore range expansion into the subarctic stimulates litter decomposition: a new positive feedback mechanism to climate change? |
title_full |
Potential macro-detritivore range expansion into the subarctic stimulates litter decomposition: a new positive feedback mechanism to climate change? |
title_fullStr |
Potential macro-detritivore range expansion into the subarctic stimulates litter decomposition: a new positive feedback mechanism to climate change? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Potential macro-detritivore range expansion into the subarctic stimulates litter decomposition: a new positive feedback mechanism to climate change? |
title_sort |
potential macro-detritivore range expansion into the subarctic stimulates litter decomposition: a new positive feedback mechanism to climate change? |
publisher |
Springer-Verlag |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3213348 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21735203 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-011-2051-8 |
genre |
Subarctic |
genre_facet |
Subarctic |
op_relation |
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3213348 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21735203 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00442-011-2051-8 |
op_rights |
© The Author(s) 2011 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-011-2051-8 |
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Oecologia |
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167 |
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1163 |
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1175 |
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