Leaf traits capture the effects of land use changes and climate on litter decomposability of grasslands across Europe

Claire Fortunel*, Eric Garnier, Richard Joffre, Elena Kazakou, Helen Quested, Karl Grigulis, Sandra Lavorel, Pauline Ansquer, Helena Castro, Pablo Cruz, Jiří Doležal, Ove Eriksson, Helena Freitas, Carly Golodets, Claire Jouany, Jaime Kigel, Michael Kleyer, Veiko Lehsten, Jan Lepš, Tonia MeierRobin Pakeman, Maria Papadimitriou, Vasilios P. Papanastasis, Fabien Quétier, Matt Robson, Marcelo Sternberg, Jean Pierre Theau, Aurélie Thébault, Maria Zarovali

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

267 Scopus citations

Abstract

Land use and climate changes induce shifts in plant functional diversity and community structure, thereby modifying ecosystem processes. This is particularly true for litter decomposition, an essential process in the biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nutrients. In this study, we asked whether changes in functional traits of living leaves in response to changes in land use and climate were related to rates of litter potential decomposition, hereafter denoted litter decomposability, across a range of 10 contrasting sites. To disentangle the different control factors on litter decomposition, we conducted a microcosm experiment to determine the decomposability under standard conditions of litters collected in herbaceous communities from Europe and Israel. We tested how environmental factors (disturbance and climate) affected functional traits of living leaves and how these traits then modified litter quality and subsequent litter decomposability. Litter decomposability appeared proximately linked to initial litter quality, with particularly clear negative correlations with lignin-dependent indices (litter lignin concentration, lignin : nitrogen ratio, and fiber component). Litter quality was directly related to community-weighted mean traits. Lignin-dependent indices of litter quality were positively correlated with community-weighted mean leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and negatively correlated with community-weighted mean leaf nitrogen concentration (LNC). Consequently, litter decomposability was correlated negatively with community-weighted mean LDMC., and positively with community-weigh ted mean LNC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)598-611
Number of pages14
JournalEcology
Volume90
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2009

Keywords

  • Climate
  • Community functional parameters
  • Disturbance
  • Leaf traits
  • Litter decomposability
  • Litter quality

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