Soil Decomposer Can Regulate the Legacy Effect of Photodegradation on Forest Marcescent Litter Decomposition, but Emerging Microplastics Disrupt This.

ABSTRACT: Photodegradation-photochemical mineralization of standing litters-often exerts a legacy effect aiding biodegradation in soil (PLE), which is overlooked in deciduous forests containing marcescent leaves. Meanwhile, increasing anthropogenic microplastics have deposited in forests, how they would affect the PLE on subsequent litter bio-decomposition is currently unknown. Here, we employed an ultraviolet-accelerated aging chamber to replicate the abiotic photodegradation process of a naturally marcescent tree, Lindera glauca, then manipulated mesocosm bio-incubations to quantify how decomposers (microbial alone or with soil animals) and microplastic contamination would interactively affect the PLE. We found abiotic photodegradation significantly decreased litter lignin content before an

SUBMITTER: Tian K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11775386 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature