Biodiversity and decomposition in experimental grassland ecosystems.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Biogeochemistry

Background:

• Biodiversity influences ecosystem processes, including decomposition.
• Plant species richness can affect litter quality and decomposition rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of plant species richness on litter decomposition.
• To differentiate the effects of litter quality and decomposition location.

Main Methods:

• Manipulated plant species richness in an experimental setting.
• Measured carbon and nitrogen loss from litterbags over one year.
• Compared decomposition rates in situ and in a common garden.

Main Results:

• Plant species richness had a minor negative effect on litter nitrogen concentration.
• Neither litter type nor location consistently affected carbon and nitrogen loss rates.
• High diversity plots did not show faster litter decomposition or nitrogen turnover.

Conclusions:

• Increased productivity in high diversity plots does not enhance litter decomposition.
• Higher species richness may lead to increased litter accumulation and a negative feedback on productivity.
• The standing nitrogen pool in litter may increase with higher species richness.