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Decomposition of Chaparral Shrub Foliage
Author(s) -
Schlesinger William H.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1939188
Subject(s) - chaparral , sclerophyll , shrub , evergreen , litter , plant litter , nutrient cycle , nutrient , throughfall , deserts and xeric shrublands , deciduous , botany , ecology , agronomy , biology , ecosystem , mediterranean climate , habitat
Decomposition of leaf litter from two chaparral shrubs, Ceanothus megacarpus (an evergreen sclerophyll) and Salvia mellifera (a drought—deciduous species), with studied using litter bag methods for a 3—yr period at two elevations in the coastal mountains of southern California. The decomposition rates were similar between species. Mean residence time for the organic matter in the litter layer was 5.3—7.7 yr. N and P were immobilized in the litter of Ceanothus, which showed no net release of these nutrients during the 3—yr period. Only N was immobilized in Salvia litter, which had high initial concentrations of P. During decomposition the amount of resistant “lignin” substances increased, but there was no indication that these substances contained the immobilized N and P. The growth of Ceanothus chaparral may be limited by P. especially in old stands. The mean residence time for the litter layer suggests that decomposition is important to the supply of available nutrients in mature chaparral.