Secondary compounds of Pinus massoniana alter decomposers' effects on Quercus variabilis litter decomposition.

ABSTRACT: A major gap to understand the effects of plant secondary compounds on litter decomposition in the brown food web is lack of information about how these secondary compounds modify the activities of soil decomposers. To address this question, we conducted an experiment where aqueous extracts and tannins prepared from Pinus massoniana needles were added to soils collected either from P. massoniana (pine soil) or Quercus variabilis (oak soil). Our objective was to investigate the cascading effects of the two compounds on isopod (Armadillidium vulgare) activity and subsequent change in Q. variabilis litter decomposition. We found that in pine soil, both aqueous extracts and tannins (especially at high concentrations) had positive effects on litter decompositio

SUBMITTER: Lin H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6194249 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature