Plant litter functional diversity effects on litter mass loss depend on the macro-detritivore community.

ABSTRACT: A better understanding of the mechanisms driving litter diversity effects on decomposition is needed to predict how biodiversity losses affect this crucial ecosystem process. In a microcosm study, we investigated the effects of litter functional diversity and two major groups of soil macro-detritivores on the mass loss of tree leaf litter mixtures. Furthermore, we tested the effects of litter trait community means and dissimilarity on litter mass loss for seven traits relevant to decomposition. We expected macro-detritivore effects on litter mass loss to be most pronounced in litter mixtures of high functional diversity. We used 24 leaf mixtures differing in functional diversity, which were composed of litter from four species from a pool of 16 common European tree species. Earthworms, iso

SUBMITTER: Patoine G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5701737 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature