Typhoon enhancement of N and P release from litter and changes in the litter N : P ratio in a subtropical tidal wetland
Wang, Weiqi (Fujian Normal University. Institute of Geography)
Sardans i Galobart, Jordi (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Tong, Chuan (Fujian Normal University. Institute of Geography)
Wang, Chun (Fujian Normal University. Institute of Geography)
Ouyang, Linmei (Fujian Normal University. Institute of Geography)
Bartrons Vilamala, Mireia (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Peñuelas, Josep (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia)

Date: 2016
Abstract: Litter production and decomposition are key processes controlling the capacity of wetland to store and cycle carbon(C)and nutrients. Typhoons deposit large amounts of green and semi-green(between green and withered)plant tissues and withered litter(normal litter)on wetland soils, generating a pulse of litter production. Climatic models project an increase in typhoon intensity and frequency. Elucidating the impacts of typhoons on C, N and P cycles and storage capacities in subtropical and tropical wetland areas is thus important. We analyzed the patterns and changes of litter decomposition after a typhoon in the Minjiang River estuary in southeastern China. Green litter decomposed the fastest, and the loss of mass did not differ significantly between semi-green litter, withered litter and mixed litter(all soil litter after a typhoon. During the decomposition process the remaining green litter had the highest, and withered litter the lowest N and P concentrations. The biomass loss rate of litter during the studied period was related to the initial litter N and P concentrations. Remaining litter generally increased its N:P ratio during decomposition. The ratio of the released N and P was consequently lower than the initial N:P ratio in all litter types. The typhoon enhanced the release of C, N and P from the litter(884, 12. 3 and 6 kg ha−1, respectively)by 264 daysafter the typhoon. The soil was accordingly enriched with organic matter and nutrients for several months, which should favor microbial growth rates(higher C, N and P availability and lower C: nutrient and N:P ratios)and increase the rates of C and nutrient cycling. If the frequency and/or intensity of typhoons increase, a constant increase in the release of N and P to the soil with lower N:P ratios could change the N and P cycles in wetlands and provide better conditions for the spread of fast-growing species.
Grants: Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2014/SGR-274
European Commission 610028
Rights: Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. Creative Commons
Language: Anglès
Document: Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject: China ; Descomposition ; Litter ; Nutrient release ; Stoichiometry ; Tropical storms ; Typhoon ; Wetland
Published in: Environmental research letters, Volum 11, No. 1 (January 2016) , ISSN 1748-9326



17 p, 1.7 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > CREAF (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals) > Imbalance-P
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles

 Record created 2016-03-10, last modified 2023-10-06



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