Invertebrate functional traits and terrestrial nutrient cycling: Insights from a global meta‐analysis
51
Citation
99
Reference
10
Related Paper
Citation Trend
Abstract:
Functional traits are useful for characterizing variation in community and ecosystem dynamics. Most advances in trait-based ecology to date centre on plant functional traits, although there is an increasing recognition that animal traits are also key contributors to processes operating at the community or ecosystem scale. Terrestrial invertebrates are incredibly diverse and ubiquitous animals with important roles in nutrient cycling. Despite their widespread influence on ecosystem processes, we currently lack a synthetic understanding of how invertebrate functional traits affect terrestrial nutrient cycling. We present a meta-analysis of 511 paired observations from 122 papers that examined how invertebrate functional traits affected litter decomposition rates, nitrogen pools and litter C:N ratios. Based on the available data, we specifically assessed the effects of feeding mode (bioturbation, detritus shredding, detritus grazing, leaf chewing, leaf piercing, ambush predators, active hunting predators) and body size (macro- and micro-invertebrates) on nutrient cycling. The effects of invertebrates on terrestrial nutrient cycling varied according to functional trait. The inclusion of both macro- (≥2 mm) and micro-invertebrates (<2 mm) increased litter decomposition by 20% and 19%, respectively. All detritivorous feeding modes enhanced litter decomposition rates, with bioturbators, detritus shredders and detritus grazers increasing decomposition by 28%, 22% and 15%, respectively. Neither herbivore feeding mode (e.g. leaf chewers and leaf piercers) nor predator hunting mode (ambush and active hunting) affected decomposition. We also revealed that bioturbators and detritus grazers increased soil nitrogen availability by 99% and 70%, respectively, and that leaf-chewing herbivores had a weak effect on litterfall stoichiometry via reducing C:N ratios by 11%. Although functional traits might be useful predictors of ecosystem processes, our findings suggest context-dependent effects of invertebrate traits on terrestrial nutrient cycling. Detritivore functional traits (i.e. bioturbators, detritus shredders and detritus grazers) are more consistent with increased rates of nutrient cycling, whereas our currently characterized predator and herbivore traits are less predictive. Future research is needed to identify, standardize and deliberately study the impacts of invertebrate functional traits on nutrient cycling in hopes of revealing the key functional traits governing ecosystem functioning worldwide.Keywords:
Nutrient cycle
Cycling
Nutrient cycle
Cycling
Litter
Plant litter
Cite
Citations (2)
The accumulation, distribution and biological cycling of nutrients in eucalyptus ABL12W5 plantation ecosystem were studied in Leizhou peninsula, China. Results showed that: the nutrients concentrations were different in various components of eucalyptus ABL12W5, higher content of N, P, K, Ca and Mg being in the leaf, higher one of Ca, K in the bark, and the lowest one of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in the bole; the annual net accumulation of nutrients raised with stand age, and the highest raised degree in the annual net accumulation of nutrients was found in 2 ages stand of eucalyptus ABL12W5; there were also different in the annual absorption and total accumulation of nutrients, N, K or Ca being the highest, following by Mg, P being the lowest; there was obvious raise in absorption and accumulation of Ca in 5 ages of stand of eucalyptus ABL12W5; the returned rates of nutrients of eucalyptus ABL12W5 were very lower, being above 20% for N and Mg, 8% to 14% for Ca, 6.5% to 9% for P, and lower than 5% for K. The eucalyptus plantation ecosystem was in the decline of soil nutrients.
Nutrient cycle
Cycling
Cite
Citations (1)
Nutrient cycle
Cycling
Biogeochemical Cycle
Biogeochemistry
Cite
Citations (10)
According to theory, the rate and stoichiometry of microbial mineralization depend, in part, on nutrient availability. For microbes associated with leaves in streams, nutrients are available from both the water column and the leaf. Therefore, microbial nutrient cycling may change with nutrient availability and during leaf decomposition. We explored spatial and temporal patterns of mineralization by heterotrophic microbes by placing packs of red maple leaves at sites in 5 Appalachian streams spanning a range of N and P availability. We collected packs 4 times from each site. Leaf disks from these packs were incubated in microcosms, and uptake rates and steady-state concentrations of NH4+ and soluble reactive P (SRP) were used to calculate mineralization rates. N uptake peaked between 50 and 60 d, whereas P uptake peaked ∼10 d later. Clear patterns were found for fungal biomass-specific uptake or mineralization fluxes of either nutrient over time or space, but the microbes grown in the site with the lowest nutrient availability had the highest fungal biomass-specific cycling. The ability of microbes to access nutrients from their substrate may prevent dissolved nutrient availability from being a strong driver of microbial nutrient cycling.
Microcosm
Nutrient cycle
Cycling
Biogeochemical Cycle
Cite
Citations (53)
Nutrient cycle
Limiting
Tropical forest
Cycling
Cite
Citations (249)
In natural and man-made protected plantations,cycling of nutrient is an important aspect as significant amounts of nutrients are returned to the soil through litter fall and become available for reabsorption.Nutrient distribution,accumulation and cycling of Quercus aquifolioides shrublands in the eastern slope of the Zheduo mountain were studied.The results showed that:(1)Nutrient concentration differed somewhat according to components.The nutrient elements patterns were NKCaMgP in leaf and branch components and CaKNMgP in stem and belowground components.(2)The total nutrient standing stocks were estimated to be(kg/hm2):N(252.67),P(49.22),K(197.01),Ca(650.06),and Mg(51.18).The proportions of these nutrients distributed in the shrub component,herb component and litter component were 88.61%~96.10%,0.64%~4.22% and 2.54%~9.25%,respectively.(3)Most of the nutrients in Q.aquifolioides shrub were distributed in the belowground components(67%~81%).The abundant nutrient reserve in roots favored for resprouting of Q.aquifolioides after fire and coppicing.(4) The nutrient annual accumulations in the shrubs were[kg/(hm2·a)]:Ca(20.82)N(7.46)K(6.12) P(2.33)Mg(1.55).The nutrient utilization coefficient of the five elements was estimated to be 0.09,and the nutrient cycling coefficient to be 0.60,and the nutrient recycling period was also estimated.The nutrient use efficiency of Q.aquifolioides shrublands was low and the recycling period of nutrient was long.
Shrubland
Nutrient cycle
Cycling
Litter
Plant litter
Cite
Citations (0)
▪ Abstract Animals are important in nutrient cycling in freshwater ecosystems. Via excretory processes, animals can supply nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) at rates comparable to major nutrient sources, and nutrient cycling by animals can support a substantial proportion of the nutrient demands of primary producers. In addition, animals may exert strong impacts on the species composition of primary producers via effects on nutrient supply rates and ratios. Animals can either recycle nutrients within a habitat, or translocate nutrients across habitats or ecosystems. Nutrient translocation by relatively large animals may be particularly important for stimulating new primary production and for increasing nutrient standing stocks in recipient habitats. Animals also have numerous indirect effects on nutrient fluxes via effects on their prey or by modification of the physical environment. Future studies must quantify how the importance of animal-mediated nutrient cycling varies among taxa and along environmental gradients such as ecosystem size and productivity.
Nutrient cycle
Cycling
Primary producers
Freshwater ecosystem
Cite
Citations (1,060)
Abstract Nutrient concentrations within aquatic ecosystems have increased markedly during the last fifty years due to a variety of causes. Significant changes to the rates of nutrient cycling, particularly of nitrogen and phosphorus, have influenced their biological availability on a global scale. Three broad groupings of processes that directly influence nutrient cycling within freshwaters are described. Retention modifies the availability of nutrients for transport, while selectivity between individual chemical species results in preferential uptake and/or transport, and finally transformation processes alter the physical state or reactivity of particular nutrients. Differences in spatial and temporal dynamics of delivery and transport mechanisms among individual nutrients have caused variable relative changes in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and fluxes. These composite dynamic factors make it difficult to couple causal relationships between nutrient sources and their impacts.
Cycling
Nutrient cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Cite
Citations (0)
Studied nutrient distribution,nutrient storage,and annual nutrients uptake in different parts of trees and concluded that nutrients vary in leaves of different mature state and in bark and wood.Internal cycling of N,P,K indicates the conservation recycling of these nutrients.Large amount of nutrients stored in this population indicate which play an important role in the forest.The turnover time of N,P,K,Ca,Mg in the population is 121,131,188,122 and 1904 year respectively.
Nutrient cycle
Cycling
Cite
Citations (0)
Cycling
Nutrient cycle
Cite
Citations (0)