Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : Tropical forests determine global biogeochemical cycles to a large extent, but control factors for key ecosystem processes such as decomposition remain poorly understood. With a full-factorial C (cellulose), N (urea), and P (phosphate) fertilization experiment, we tested the relative importance of C and nutrient limitation on litter decomposition in a mature lowland moist forest of French Guiana. Despite the previously demonstrated litter C quality control over decomposition and the very low soil P content (0.1 mg g(-1) of soil) at our study site, fertilization with C or P alone did not increase the decomposition of a wide range of litter types (N:P ratios between 20 and 80). Nitrogen fertilization alone also had no effect on decomposition. However, the combined fertilization with N and P resulted in up to 33.5% more initial litter mass lost, with an increasing effect with wider litter N:P ratios. Soil fauna strongly stimulated litter mass loss and enhanced nutrient fertilization effects. Moreover, nutrient effects on decomposition increased with additional C fertilization in the presence of fauna. Our results suggest that increased N availability is required for a positive P effect on decomposition in the studied P-poor tropical forest. Further stimulation of decomposition by C amendment through priming indicates energy limitation of decomposers that is co-determined by nutrient availability. The demonstrated intricate control of the key resources C, N, and P on decomposition calls for an intensified research effort on multiple resource limitation on key processes in tropical forests and how they change under multiple human impacts.
ISSN: 1432-9840

hal-01032414
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032414
DOI : 10.1007/s10021-012-9564-9

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag/EDP Sciences
Résumé : International audience
The elucidation of relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem processes has been limited by the definition of metrics of biodiversity and their integration into experimental design. Functional trait screening can strengthen the performance of these designs.* We suggest the use of Rao's quadratic entropy to measure both functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity of species mixtures proposed for an experimental design, and demonstrate how they can provide complementary information.* We also present an index assessing the statistical performance of these independent variables in different experimental designs. Measurement of independent variables as continuous vs. discrete variables reduces statistical performance, but improves the model by quantifying species differences masked by group assignments.* To illustrate these advances, we present an example from a tropical forest tree community in which we screened 38 species for nine functional traits. The proposed TropiDEP design is based on the relative orthogonality of two multivariate trait axes defined using principal component analysis.* We propose that independent variables describing functional diversity might be grouped to calculate independent variables describing suites of different traits with potentially different effects on particular ecosystem processes. In other systems these axes may differ from those reported here, yet the methods of analysis integrating functional and phylogenetic diversity into experimental design could be universal.
La compréhension des relations pouvant exister entre biodiversité et fonctionnement des écosystèmes a été longtemps limitée par la définition de méthodes de quantification de la diversité biologique et la mise en œuvre de dispositifs expérimentaux permettant sa mesure. L'identification de syndromes de traits fonctionnels clefs influençant des fonctions écosystémiques particulières peut renforcer la performance de ces dispositifs.* Nous suggérons l'utilisation de l'entropie quadratique de Rao pour mesurer la diversité fonctionnelle et phylogénétique dans des assemblages synthétiques d'espèces, et montrons comment ces mesures de diversité sont complémentaires.* Nous présentons également un indice permettant de tester la performance statistique de ces variables indépendantes dans différents modèles expérimentaux. L'utilisation de variables indépendantes continues plutôt que discrètes réduit la performance statistique mais améliore le modèle en quantifiant les différences fonctionnelles entre espèces; différences généralement masquées lors de leur assignation en groupes fonctionnels.* Pour illustrer ces avancées, nous présentons un exemple d'assemblages synthétiques à partir de 38 espèces d'arbres de forêt tropicale sélectionnées pour 9 traits fonctionnels (TropiDEP). Le plan d'expérience de TropiDEP est basé sur l'orthogonalité relative de deux axes multivariés de traits fonctionnels définis par analyse en composantes principales.* Nous proposons que les variables décrivant la diversité fonctionnelle soient groupées pour calculer des variables indépendantes, divisées en plusieurs axes décrivant des combinaisons de différents traits pouvant influencer des processus différents de l'écosystème (e.g. processus du N et du C). Dans d'autres systèmes, ces axes peuvent différer de ceux présentés ici, mais les méthodes d'analyse peuvent être universelles.
ISSN: 1286-4560

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess
hal-00883621
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00883621
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00883621/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00883621/file/hal-00883621.pdf
DOI : 10.1051/forest/2009110

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Nitrogen (N) transfer from legume trees to associated crops is a key factor for the N economy of low-input agroforestry systems. In this work, we presented a new approach to estimate N transfer based on the 15N content of root exudates and N released by root turnover of the donor plant (Gliricidia sepium) and the temporal change of the 15N content of the receiver plant (Dichanthium aristatum). The study was carried out in greenhouse using two isotopic methods: 15N leaf feeding (LF) and the natural 15N abundance (NA). Measurements of exudate 15N were made at several dates before and after tree pruning. A time-dependent box model was devised to quantify N transfer in time and to make comparisons between the isotopic methods. In NA, although tree roots and exudates presented a similar 15N signature before tree pruning, exudates were strongly depleted in 15N after pruning. In LF, exudates were always depleted in 15N in relation to tree roots. Hence, the current assumption used in N transfer studies concerning the equal 15N/14N distribution in tissues of the donor plant and in its excreted N was not confirmed in our study. Before pruning, N transfer functioned as a two-N-source system (soil N and exudates N) and both isotopic methods provided similar estimates: 11–12% for LF and 10–15% for NA. Calculations performed with the model indicated that N transfer occurred with small or nil fractionation of 15N in exudates. After pruning, there was a third N source associated with N released from tree root turnover. During this period, the isotopic signature of the receiver plant showed a transient state due to the progressive decrease of 15N content of that N source. The amount of N derived from the tree represented 65% of the total N content of the grass at the end of the experiments.
ISSN: 1161-0301

hal-01082183
https://hal-agroparistech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01082183
DOI : 10.1016/j.eja.2007.03.003