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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
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Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter
Published on: March 12, 2013
Functional leaf traits and biodiversity effects on litter decomposition in a stream
Markus H Schindler1, Mark O Gessner
1Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Uberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
Ecology
|July 3, 2009
Summary
Leaf litter decomposition in streams is crucial for ecosystem health. This study found that litter
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Global biodiversity loss impacts ecosystem functions like litter decomposition.
- Previous studies on tree species diversity effects on decomposition yielded inconsistent results.
- Functional litter traits may reconcile conflicting findings on decomposition rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of functional leaf litter traits on decomposition rates in a stream ecosystem.
- To test the hypothesis that litter decomposition diversity effects depend on functional dissimilarity among species.
Main Methods:
- A field experiment using leaf litter from nine deciduous tree species in 40 combinations.
- Litter decomposition was assessed using fine-mesh (microbial decomposers) and coarse-mesh (microbes and detritivores) litter bags.
- Litter functional traits (lignin, nitrogen, phosphorus) were analyzed to categorize species' decay potential.
Main Results:
- Decomposition rates were primarily controlled by litter lignin content, not nitrogen or phosphorus.
- Litter mixtures did not consistently show diversity effects on decomposition, contrary to the hypothesis.
- While the most and least decomposable species showed expected rates in mixed categories, functional dissimilarity's overall impact was weak.
Conclusions:
- Litter decomposition in streams is mainly driven by recalcitrant compounds like lignin.
- Functional litter dissimilarity among species has a limited effect on overall decomposition rates in mixtures.
- Future research should explore other mechanisms beyond basic functional traits to understand diversity-decomposition relationships.
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