Beech Leaf Disease Associated With Changes in Litter Decomposition and Fungal Communities.

ABSTRACT: Forest pests and diseases may indirectly drive critical shifts in rates of litter decomposition, ultimately impacting carbon and nutrient cycling. Beech leaf disease (BLD) is a rapidly emerging forest disease affecting American beech and driving significant changes in leaf traits and associated microbial communities-both critical drivers of decomposition. However, the extent to which these BLD-driven changes may alter rates of litter decomposition remains unknown. Here, we explore rates of decomposition in BLD symptomatic and asymptomatic leaf litter using a field-based litterbag experiment. In addition to monitoring rates of decomposition, we also explored differences in the associated fungal communities. We found that BLD-symptomatic litter decomposed more quickly than asymptomatic litte

SUBMITTER: Shepherd BL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12664823 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature