Legacy effects of altered flooding regimes on decomposition in a boreal floodplain

TY - JOUR

T1 - Legacy effects of altered flooding regimes on decomposition in a boreal floodplain

AU - Sarneel, J.M.

AU - Veen, G.F.

N1 - 6347, TE; Data Archiving: data archived in MDA

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Background and aimsSince long-term experiments are scarce, we have poor understanding of how changed flooding regimes affect processes such as litter decomposition.MethodsWe simulated short- and long-term changed flooding regimes by transplanting turfs between low (frequently flooded) and high (in-frequently flooded) elevations on the river bank in 2000 (old turfs) and 2014 (young turfs). We tested how incubation elevation, turf origin and turf age affected decomposition of standard litter (tea) and four types of local litter.ResultsFor tea, we found that the initial decomposition rate (k) and stabilization (S) of labile material during the second decomposition phase were highest at high incubation elevation. We found intermediate values for k and S in young transplanted turfs, but turf origin was not important in old turfs. Local litter mass loss was generally highest at high incubation elevations, and effects of turf origin and turf age were litter-specific.ConclusionWe conclude that incubation elevation, i.e., the current flooding regime, was the most important factor driving decomposition. Soil origin (flooding history) affected decomposition of tea only in young turfs. Therefore, we expect that changes in flooding regimes predominantly affect decomposition directly, while indirect legacy effects are weaker and litter- or site-specific.

AB - Background and aimsSince long-term experiments are scarce, we have poor understanding of how changed flooding regimes affect processes such as litter decomposition.MethodsWe simulated short- and long-term changed flooding regimes by transplanting turfs between low (frequently flooded) and high (in-frequently flooded) elevations on the river bank in 2000 (old turfs) and 2014 (young turfs). We tested how incubation elevation, turf origin and turf age affected decomposition of standard litter (tea) and four types of local litter.ResultsFor tea, we found that the initial decomposition rate (k) and stabilization (S) of labile material during the second decomposition phase were highest at high incubation elevation. We found intermediate values for k and S in young transplanted turfs, but turf origin was not important in old turfs. Local litter mass loss was generally highest at high incubation elevations, and effects of turf origin and turf age were litter-specific.ConclusionWe conclude that incubation elevation, i.e., the current flooding regime, was the most important factor driving decomposition. Soil origin (flooding history) affected decomposition of tea only in young turfs. Therefore, we expect that changes in flooding regimes predominantly affect decomposition directly, while indirect legacy effects are weaker and litter- or site-specific.

KW - international

UR - http://mda.vliz.be/directlink.php?fid=VLIZ_00000444_5b361a356c405

U2 - 10.1007/s11104-017-3382-y

DO - 10.1007/s11104-017-3382-y

M3 - Article

SN - 0032-079X

VL - 421

SP - 57

EP - 66

JO - Plant and Soil

JF - Plant and Soil

IS - 1-2

ER -