Leaf litter identity rather than diversity shapes microbial functions and microarthropod abundance in tropical montane rainforests

作者：Laura M. Sánchez‐Galindo, Dorothee Sandmann, Franca Marian, Valentyna Krashevska, Mark Maraun, Stefan Scheu · 发表于：Ecology and Evolution · 年份：2021 · DOI：10.1002/ece3.7208 · 被引用次数：27 · 研究领域：Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies、Fire effects on ecosystems、Species Distribution and Climate Change

Abstract In tropical forest ecosystems leaf litter from a large variety of species enters the decomposer system, however, the impact of leaf litter diversity on the abundance and activity of soil organisms during decomposition is little known. We investigated the effect of leaf litter diversity and identity on microbial functions and the abundance of microarthropods in Ecuadorian tropical montane rainforests. We used litterbags filled with leaves of six native tree species ( Cecropia andina , Dictyocaryum lamarckianum , Myrcia pubescens , Cavendishia zamorensis , Graffenrieda emarginata , and Clusia spp.) and incubated monocultures and all possible two‐ and four‐species combinations in the field for 6 and 12 months. Mass loss, microbial biomass, basal respiration, metabolic quotient, and the slope of microbial growth after glucose addition, as well as the abundance of microarthropods (Acari and Collembola), were measured at both sampling dates. Leaf litter diversity significantly increased mass loss after 6 months of exposure, but reduced microbial biomass after 12 months of exposure. Leaf litter species identity significantly changed both microbial activity and microarthropod abundance with species of high quality (low C‐to‐N ratio), such as C. andina , improving resource quality as indicated by lower metabolic quotient and higher abundance of microarthropods. Nonetheless, species of low quality, such as Clusia spp., also increased the abundance of Oribatida suggesting that ...