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Decomposition of Betula papyrifera leaf litter under the independent and interactive effects of elevated CO 2 and O 3
Author(s) -
Parsons William F. J.,
Lindroth Richard L.,
Bockheim James G.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
global change biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.146
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1365-2486
pISSN - 1354-1013
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2004.00851.x
Subject(s) - litter , plant litter , substrate (aquarium) , lignin , decomposition , chemistry , betula pendula , ecosystem , proanthocyanidin , betulaceae , carbon fibers , botany , zoology , horticulture , environmental science , biology , ecology , materials science , polyphenol , biochemistry , antioxidant , composite number , composite material
Litter decay dynamics of paper birch ( Betula papyrifera ) were assessed at the Aspen free‐air CO 2 enrichment (FACE) facility in northern Wisconsin, USA. Leaf litter was decomposed for 12 months under factorial combinations of 360 vs. 560 μL CO 2 L −1 , crossed with 36 vs. 55 nL O 3 L −1 . To differentiate between substrate quality and environment effects, litterbags were placed in their Native Plots of origin or transplanted into the other treatments. CO 2 enrichment, regardless of O 3 concentration, produced poorer quality litter (high C/N, lignin/N and condensed tannins) than did ambient CO 2 (low C/N, lignin/N and condensed tannins). Substrate quality differences were reflected in the mass loss rates ( k ‐values), which were high for litter generated under ambient CO 2 (0.887 year −1 ) and low for litter generated under elevated CO 2 (0.674 year −1 ). The rate‐retarding effects of CO 2 enrichment were neither alleviated nor exacerbated by O 3 exposure. Decay rates varied, however, depending on whether litter was placed back into its plot of origin or transplanted to Common Gardens. The results of this study are species specific, but they have important implications for understanding the processes regulating storage of fixed C and the release of CO 2 from northern forest ecosystems.