Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1893/27428
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dc.contributor.authorParker, Thomas Cen_UK
dc.contributor.authorSanderman, Jonathanen_UK
dc.contributor.authorHolden, Robert Den_UK
dc.contributor.authorBlume-Werry, Gescheen_UK
dc.contributor.authorSjögersten, Sofieen_UK
dc.contributor.authorLarge, Daviden_UK
dc.contributor.authorCastro-Díaz, Miguelen_UK
dc.contributor.authorStreet, Lorna Een_UK
dc.contributor.authorSubke, Jens-Arneen_UK
dc.contributor.authorWookey, Philip Aen_UK
dc.date.accessioned2018-06-21T14:39:24Z-
dc.date.available2018-06-21T14:39:24Z-
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/27428-
dc.description.abstractDecomposition of plant litter is a key control over carbon (C) storage in the soil. The biochemistry of the litter being produced, the environment in which the decomposition is taking place, and the community composition and metabolism of the decomposer organisms exert a combined influence over decomposition rates. As deciduous shrubs and trees are expanding into tundra ecosystems as a result of regional climate warming, this change in vegetation represents a change in litter input to tundra soils and a change in the environment in which litter decomposes. To test the importance of litter biochemistry and environment in determining litter mass loss, we reciprocally transplanted litter between heath (Empetrum nigrum), shrub (Betula nana) and forest (Betula pubescens) at a sub-arctic tree-line in Sweden. As expansion of shrubs and trees promotes deeper snow, we also used a snow fence experiment in a tundra heath environment to understand the importance of snow depth, relative to other factors, in the decomposition of litter. Our results show that B. pubescens and B. nana leaf litter decomposed at faster rates than E. nigrum litter across all environments, while all litter species decomposed at faster rates in the forest and shrub environments than in the tundra heath. The effect of increased snow on decomposition was minimal, leading us to conclude that microbial activity over summer in the productive forest and shrub vegetation is driving increased mass loss compared to the heath. Using B. pubescens and E. nigrum litter, we demonstrate that degradation of carbohydrate-C is a significant driver of mass loss in the forest. This pathway was less prominent in the heath, which is consistent with observations that tundra soils typically have high concentrations of ‘labile’ C. This experiment suggests that further expansion of shrubs and trees may stimulate the loss of undecomposed carbohydrate-C in the tundra.en_UK
dc.language.isoenen_UK
dc.publisherEcological Society of Americaen_UK
dc.relationParker TC, Sanderman J, Holden RD, Blume-Werry G, Sjögersten S, Large D, Castro-Díaz M, Street LE, Subke J & Wookey PA (2018) Exploring drivers of litter decomposition in a greening Arctic: Results from a transplant experiment across a tree-line (Forthcoming), Ecology.en_UK
dc.rightsThis item has been embargoed for a period. During the embargo please use the Request a Copy feature at the foot of the Repository record to request a copy directly from the author. You can only request a copy if you wish to use this work for your own research or private study.en_UK
dc.subjectvegetation changeen_UK
dc.subjectlitteren_UK
dc.subjectdecompositionen_UK
dc.subjectArcticen_UK
dc.subjecttundraen_UK
dc.subjectforesten_UK
dc.subjectsnowen_UK
dc.titleExploring drivers of litter decomposition in a greening Arctic: Results from a transplant experiment across a tree-line (Forthcoming)en_UK
dc.typeJournal Articleen_UK
dc.rights.embargodate2020-06-11en_UK
dc.rights.embargoreason[Parker et al. Abisko Litter Ecology Final_STORRE.pdf] Until this work is published there will be an embargo on the full text of this work.en_UK
dc.citation.jtitleEcologyen_UK
dc.citation.issn0012-9658en_UK
dc.citation.peerreviewedRefereeden_UK
dc.type.statusAM - Accepted Manuscripten_UK
dc.contributor.funderEuropean Commissionen_UK
dc.contributor.funderNatural Environment Research Councilen_UK
dc.author.emailt.c.parker@stir.ac.uken_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationBiological and Environmental Sciencesen_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationWoods Hole Research Centeren_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationSwedish Polar Research Secretariaten_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationErnst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswalden_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Nottinghamen_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Nottinghamen_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Nottinghamen_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Edinburghen_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationBiological and Environmental Sciencesen_UK
dc.contributor.affiliationBiological and Environmental Sciencesen_UK
dc.identifier.wtid930315en_UK
dc.contributor.orcid0000-0001-9244-639Xen_UK
dc.date.accepted2018-06-11en_UK
dc.date.firstcompliantdepositdate2018-06-21en_UK
dc.description.refREF Compliant by Deposit in Stirling's Repositoryen_UK
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