Arid
DOI10.1016/j.sajb.2008.04.002
Litter dynamics across browsing-induced fenceline contrasts in succulent thicket, South Africa
Lechmere-Oertel, R. G.2; Kerley, G. I. H.2; Mills, A. J.1; Cowling, R. M.3
通讯作者Mills, A. J.
来源期刊SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
ISSN0254-6299
出版年2008
卷号74期号:4页码:651-659
英文摘要

Semi-arid succulent thicket in South Africa has experienced extensive livestock-induced transformation, reflected in extensive structural changes and loss of biodiversity, biomass and soil carbon. The ecological mechanisms contributing to this transformation are not fully understood but are believed to include the breakdown of ecosystem processes including litter production and decomposition, which are rate-limiting steps in nutrient cycling and incorporation of organic matter into the soil. In this study we investigated the effect of transformation on litter production and decomposition in succulent thicket. We measured litter production and decomposition of four dominant perennial woody plants (Euclea undulata, Pappea capensis, Portulacaria afra and Rhus longispina) across replicated fenceline contrasts. Litter production was measured over 14 months using mesh traps. Decomposition was measured over 15 months using a combination of litterbags and leaf packs. Litter production in succulent thicket was very high for a semi-arid system (approaching that of temperate forests), with the leaf- and stem-succulent P. afra contributing the largest component. Transformation caused a significant reduction in litter production at a landscape scale (4126 vs 2881 kg/ha/yr), primarily due to reduced cover of R afra. Surprisingly, transformation had few significant effects on the rate of decomposition of litter, possibly due to a switch from biotic to abiotic decomposition processes. The perennial vegetation in succulent thicket, particularly P. afra, appears to play a critical role in the maintenance of the ecosystem by facilitating the incorporation of organic matter into soil. Transformation of succulent thicket leads to a disruption of the carbon cycle, ultimately resulting in degradation of the ecosystem. Successful restoration is likely to depend on increasing the rates of organic matter return to soils. P. afra is a potential carbon restoration pump as it is both drought-resistant and easily propagated from cuttings. (C) 2008 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


英文关键词Browsing impacts Euclea undulata Nutrient cycling Pappea capensis Portulacaria afra Rhus longispina Succulent thicket
类型Article
语种英语
国家South Africa
收录类别SCI-E
WOS记录号WOS:000260702100015
WOS关键词SUNDAYS RIVER VALLEY ; SOIL ORGANIC-MATTER ; AFRA L JACQ ; EASTERN CAPE ; LEAF-LITTER ; SUBTROPICAL THICKET ; CHIHUAHUAN DESERT ; NUTRIENT RELEASE ; MOJAVE DESERT ; PLANT LITTER
WOS类目Plant Sciences
WOS研究方向Plant Sciences
资源类型期刊论文
条目标识符http://119.78.100.177/qdio/handle/2XILL650/159234
作者单位1.Univ Stellenbosch, Dept Soil Sci, ZA-7602 Matieland, South Africa;
2.Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Univ, Ctr African Conservat Ecol, Dept Zool, ZA-6031 Port Elizabeth, South Africa;
3.Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Univ, Dept Bot, ZA-6031 Port Elizabeth, South Africa
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Lechmere-Oertel, R. G.,Kerley, G. I. H.,Mills, A. J.,et al. Litter dynamics across browsing-induced fenceline contrasts in succulent thicket, South Africa[J],2008,74(4):651-659.
APA Lechmere-Oertel, R. G.,Kerley, G. I. H.,Mills, A. J.,&Cowling, R. M..(2008).Litter dynamics across browsing-induced fenceline contrasts in succulent thicket, South Africa.SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY,74(4),651-659.
MLA Lechmere-Oertel, R. G.,et al."Litter dynamics across browsing-induced fenceline contrasts in succulent thicket, South Africa".SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 74.4(2008):651-659.
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