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Litter quality and interactive effects in litter mixtures: more negative interactions under elevated CO 2 ?
Author(s) -
Hoorens Bart,
Aerts Rien,
Stroetenga Martin
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.452
H-Index - 181
eISSN - 1365-2745
pISSN - 0022-0477
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2745.2002.00732.x
Subject(s) - litter , chemistry , decomposition , sphagnum , plant litter , zoology , environmental chemistry , ecology , ecosystem , peat , biology , organic chemistry
Summary1 The decomposition rate of litter mixtures can depend on interactions between compounds in the component species, i.e. in litter chemistry. Differences in litter N concentration are likely to lead to positive interaction (i.e. faster than expected decomposition) and differences in phenolic concentrations to a negative interaction. These interactions may become less positive (or more negative) when the litter is produced under elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentrations. 2 We measured respiration rates of litter from two contrasting species pairs, produced under ambient and elevated CO 2 . 3 As expected, mixtures of Calamagrostis epigejos and Vicia lathyroides , which differed strongly in litter N concentration, decomposed faster than expected, but the interaction disappeared under elevated CO 2 . 4 Despite the large difference in litter N concentration between Sphagnum recurvum and Carex rostrata , no interaction was observed in the ambient CO 2 litter mixtures, and under elevated CO 2 , there was an unexpected positive interaction. 5 Interactions in litter mixtures can therefore change under elevated CO 2 , albeit not in a predictable manner, which would require correct prediction of species‐specific litter chemistry and its response to elevated CO 2 .