Effects of gap size on litter decomposition and microbial activity in a subtropical forest.

From: Ecology | Date: October 1, 1995| Author: | Copyright information

We examined the effects of gap size on rates of mass loss of leaf. branch and bark litter, and microbial activity in a Castanopsis kawakamii forest over a 360-d period. Fiver forest gap size classes that comprise a gap size gradient were chosen: (1) closed canopy of pure Castanopsis kawakamii vegetation; (2) small gaps with a diameter of [is less than] 5 m: (3) small-to-intermediate gaps with a diameter of 5-15 m, (4) intermediate-to-large gaps with a diameter of 15-30 m: (5) large gaps with a diameter of [is greater than] 30 m. After 360 d, plant litter decomposing under closed canopy or ... 

<5           Y = 100.07 x [e.sup.0.027t] 
           5-15          Y = 100.11 x [e.sup.0.015t] 
           15-30         Y = 100.32 x [e.sup.0.0084t]><5           Y = 100.00 x [e.sup.0.00047t] 
           5-15          Y = 100.07 x [e.sup.0.00046t] 
           15-30         Y = 100.12 x [e.sup.0.00023t]><5           Y = 100.06 x [e.sup.0.0009t] 
           5-15          Y = 100.23 x [e.sup.0.00079t] 
           15-30         Y = 100.11 x [e.sup.0.00067t]>
<5 m        5-15 m 
C:N                          0.92(**)    -0.91(**)   -0.93(**) 
Lignin                      -0.90(**)    -0.88(**)   -0.91(**) 
N                            0.96(**)     0.94(**)    0.95(**) 
P                            0.86(*)      0.85(*)     0.87(*) 
K                            0.78(*)      0.76(*)     0.74(*) 
C`                           0.79(*)      0.72(*)     0.75(*) 
Mg                           0.80(*)      0.78(*)     0.76(*) 
S                            0.64(*)      0.62(*)     0.60(*) 
Mean air temperature 
  ([double dagger])          0.35         0.29        0.27 
Mean relative humidity 
  ([double dagger])          0.79(*)      0.79(*)     0.75(*) 
Mean soil temperature 
  ([double dagger])          0.80(*)      0.75(*)     0.78(*) 
Mean soil moisture 
  ([double dagger])          0.97(**)     0.96(**)    0.96(**) 
 
                                      Correlation coefficients (r) 
                                                     Gap size 
Quality and                                          classes 
climatic factors         15-30 m>
<5            18.2 [+ or -] 7.5a    89 [+ or -] 10a 
 5-15           18.5 [+ or -] 11.3a   87 [+ or -] 11a 
15-30           19.4 [+ or -] 12.3a   82 [+ or -] 17b><5            21.88 [+ or -] 7.6a    1677 [+ or -] 195a 
 5-15           20.63 [+ or -] 8.4a    1732 [+ or -] 198a 
15-30           17.75 [+ or -] 10.6b   2324 [+ or -] 498b><5            1233 [+ or -] 157a   18.9 [+ or -] 12.7a 
 5-15           1262 [+ or -] 162a   18.6 [+ or -] 14.5a 
15-30           1568 [+ or -] 378b   11.7 [+ or -] 20.2h>

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