English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

This study investigates the isolated decomposition of spruce and lodgepole conifer needles to enhance our understanding of how needle litter impacts near-surface terrestrial biogeochemical processes. Harvested needles were exported to a subalpine meadow to enable a discrete analysis of the decomposition processes over 2 years. Initial chemistry revealed the lodgepole needles to be less recalcitrant with a lower carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio. Total C and N fundamentally shifted within needle species over time with decreased C:N ratios for spruce and increased ratios for lodgepole. Differences in chemistry correlated with CO 2  production and soil microbial communities. The most pronounced trends were associated with lodgepole needles in comparison to the spruce and needle-free controls. Increased organic carbon and nitrogen concentrations associated with needle presence in soil extractions further corroborate the results with clear biogeochemical signatures in association with needle chemistry. Interestingly, no clear differentiation was observed as a function of bark beetle impacted spruce needles vs those derived from healthy spruce trees despite initial differences in needle chemistry. These results reveal that the inherent chemistry associated with tree species has a greater impact on soil biogeochemical signatures during isolated needle decomposition. By extension, biogeochemical shifts associated with bark beetle infestation are likely driven more by changes such as the cessation of rhizospheric processes than by needle litter decomposition.

A comparison of lodgepole and spruce needle chemistry impacts on terrestrial biogeochemical processes during isolated decomposition