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Updated: May 20, 2025
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Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter
Published on: March 12, 2013
13.2K
Litter alteration reduces ecosystem multifunctionality through divergent aboveground-belowground feedbacks in alpine
Guomin Xue1, Lihua Tian1, Jingxue Zhao2
1Sichuan Zoige Alpine Wetland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, and College of Grassland Resources, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Journal of Environmental Management
|May 17, 2025
Summary
Altering plant litter impacts ecosystem multifunctionality in alpine grasslands. Both litter addition and removal decreased overall functions, affecting above- and belowground processes differently.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Grassland Ecology
Background:
- Plant litter significantly influences biogeochemical processes and ecological functions in global grasslands.
- Limited understanding exists regarding plant litter's impact on multiple ecological functions in semi-humid alpine grasslands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how varying plant litter input levels affect ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) in semi-humid alpine grasslands.
- To determine the differential responses of above- and belowground ecological functions to plant litter manipulation.
Main Methods:
- A controlled field experiment was conducted in an alpine grassland setting.
- Different levels of plant litter input (addition and removal) were applied to assess their effects.
- Ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF), aboveground EMF (AEMF), and belowground EMF (BEMF) were quantified.
Main Results:
- Plant litter removal generally increased plant diversity and productivity but decreased soil nutrients.
- Plant litter addition tended to decrease plant diversity and productivity while increasing soil nutrients.
- Both litter addition and removal negatively impacted overall EMF, with significant decreases observed under high litter addition (L+100%) and removal (L-50%, L-100%) treatments.
- Aboveground functions decreased with litter addition, while belowground functions showed a positive trend.
- Belowground functions decreased with litter removal, while aboveground functions showed a positive trend.
- Plant litter manipulation directly influenced EMF by altering plant diversity, productivity, and soil fertility.
Conclusions:
- Plant litter manipulation significantly affects ecosystem multifunctionality in semi-humid alpine grasslands.
- Changes in litter input, driven by factors like climate change and grazing, can alter the balance of above- and belowground ecosystem functions.
- Understanding these dynamics is crucial for maintaining ecological functions and predicting the impact of altered litter inputs on grassland ecosystems.
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