Drivers of wood decay in tropical ecosystems: Termites versus microbes along spatial, temporal and experimental precipitation gradients

作者：Baptiste Wijas, Habacuc Flores‐Moreno, Steven Allison, Luciana Chávez Rodríguez, Alexander W. Cheesman, Lucas A. Cernusak, Rebecca Clement, William K. Cornwell, Elizabeth S. Duan, Paul Eggleton, Marc Rosenfield, Abbey R. Yatsko, Amy E. Zanne · 发表于：Functional Ecology · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1111/1365-2435.14494 · 被引用次数：20 · 研究领域：Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior、Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies、Plant and animal studies

Abstract Models estimating decomposition rates of dead wood across space and time are mainly based on studies carried out in temperate zones where microbes are dominant drivers of decomposition. However, most dead wood biomass is found in tropical ecosystems, where termites are also important wood consumers. Given the dependence of microbial decomposition on moisture with termite decomposition thought to be more resilient to dry conditions, the relative importance of these decomposition agents is expected to shift along gradients in precipitation that affect wood moisture. Here, we investigated the relative roles of microbes and termites in wood decomposition across precipitation gradients in space, time and with a simulated drought experiment in tropical Australia. We deployed mesh bags with non‐native pine wood blocks, allowing termite access to half the bags. Bags were collected every 6 months (end of wet and dry seasons) over a 4‐year period across five sites along a rainfall gradient (ranging from savanna to wet sclerophyll to rainforest) and within a simulated drought experiment at the wettest site. We expected microbial decomposition to proceed faster in wet conditions with greater relative influence of termites in dry conditions. Consistent with expectations, microbial‐mediated wood decomposition was slowest in dry savanna sites, dry seasons and simulated drought conditions. Wood blocks discovered by termites decomposed 16–36% faster than blocks undiscovered by termit...