Open AccessIn Situ CO2 Efflux from Leaf Litter Layer Showed Large Temporal Variation Induced by Rapid Wetting and Drying Cycle
Author(s) -
Mioko Ataka,
Yuji Kominami,
Kenichi Yoshimura,
Takafumi Miyama,
Mayuko Jomura,
Makoto Tani
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0108404
Subject(s) - litter , zoology , environmental science , precipitation , water content , soil water , wetting , plant litter , in situ , soil respiration , hydrology (agriculture) , atmospheric sciences , chemistry , soil science , agronomy , biology , ecology , ecosystem , materials science , meteorology , physics , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , composite material , engineering
We performed continuous and manual in situ measurements of CO 2 efflux from the leaf litter layer ( R LL ) and water content of the leaf litter layer (LWC) in conjunction with measurements of soil respiration ( R S ) and soil water content (SWC) in a temperate forest; our objectives were to evaluate the response of R LL to rainfall events and to assess temporal variation in its contribution to R S . We measured R LL in a treatment area from which all potential sources of CO 2 except for the leaf litter layer were removed. Capacitance sensors were used to measure LWC. R LL increased immediately after wetting of the leaf litter layer; peak R LL values were observed during or one day after rainfall events and were up to 8.6-fold larger than R LL prior to rainfall. R LL declined to pre-wetting levels within 2–4 day after rainfall events and corresponded to decreasing LWC, indicating that annual R LL is strongly influenced by precipitation. Temporal variation in the observed contribution of R LL to R S varied from nearly zero to 51%. Continuous in situ measurements of LWC and CO 2 efflux from leaf litter only, combined with measurements of R S , can provide robust data to clarify the response of R LL to rainfall events and its contribution to total R S .