10.5061/DRYAD.4B95C
Szefer, Piotr
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
Carmona, Carlos P.
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
Chmel, Kryštof
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
Konečná, Marie
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
Libra, Martin
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
Molem, Kenneth
New Guinea Binatang Research Center
Novotny, Vojtech
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
Segar, Simon T.
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
Švamberková, Eva
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
Topliceanu, Theodor-Sebastian
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
Leps, Jan
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
Data from: Determinants of litter decomposition rates in a tropical
forest: functional traits, phylogeny and ecological succession
Dryad
dataset
2017
successional status
plant resource-use strategy
nitrogen content
2016-12-27T15:14:43Z
2016-12-27T15:14:43Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.03670
102341 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Plant litter decomposition is one of the most important processes in
terrestrial ecosystems, as it is a key factor in nutrient cycling.
Decomposition rates depend on environmental factors, but also plant
traits, as these determine the character of detritus. We measured litter
decomposition rate for 57 common tree species displaying a variety of
functional traits within four sites in primary and four sites in secondary
tropical forest in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. The phylogenetic
relationships between these trees were also estimated using molecular
data. The leaves collected from different tree species were dried for two
days, placed into detritus bags and exposed to ambient conditions for two
months. Nitrogen, carbon and ash content were assessed as quantitative
traits and used together with a phylogenetic variance-covariance matrix as
predictors of decomposition rate. The analysis of the tree species
composition from 96 quadrats located along a successional gradient of
swidden agriculture enabled us to determine successional preferences for
individual species. Nitrogen content was the only functional trait
measured to be significantly positively correlated with decomposition
rate. Controlling for plant phylogeny did not influence our conclusions,
but including phylogeny demonstrated that the mainly early successional
family Euphorbiaceae is characterized by a particularly high decomposition
rate. The acquisitive traits (high nitrogen content and low wood density)
correlated with rapid decomposition were characteristic for early
successional species. Decomposition rate thus decreased from early
successional to primary forest species. However, the decomposition of
leaves from the same species was significantly faster in primary than in
secondary forest stands, very probably because the high humidity of
primary forest environments keeps the decomposing material wetter.
species traits and sitesDataset contains species with site characteristics
and individual species traits.main_datasetS.xlsphylogenyPhylogeny tre
file.