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Rahman NEB, Smith SW, Lam WN, Chong KY, Chua MSE, Teo PY, Lee DWJ, Phua SY, Aw CY, Lee JSH, Wardle DA. Leaf decomposition and flammability are largely decoupled across species in a tropical swamp forest despite sharing some predictive leaf functional traits. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:598-611. [PMID: 36651117 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Decomposition and fire are major carbon pathways in many ecosystems, yet potential linkages between these processes are poorly understood. We test whether variability in decomposability and flammability across species are related to each other and to key plant functional traits in tropical swamp forests, where habitat degradation is elevating decomposition and fire regimes. Using senesced and fresh leaves of 22 swamp tree species in Singapore, we conducted an in situ decomposition experiment and a laboratory flammability experiment. We analysed 16 leaf physical and biochemical traits as predictors of decomposability and components of flammability: combustibility, ignitability and sustainability. Decomposability and flammability were largely decoupled across species, despite some shared predictive traits such as specific leaf area (SLA). Physical traits predicted that thicker leaves with a smaller SLA and volume decomposed faster, while various cation concentrations predicted flammability components, particularly ignitability. We show that flammability and decomposability of swamp forest leaves are decoupled because flammability is mostly driven by biochemical traits, while decomposition is driven by physical traits. Our approach identifies species that are slow to decompose and burn (e.g. Calophyllum tetrapterum and Xanthophyllum flavescens), which could be planted to mitigate carbon losses in tropical swamp reforestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur E B Rahman
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore
| | - Stuart W Smith
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore
- Ecology, Conservation and Zoonosis Research and Enterprise Group, School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton, Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 4GJ, UK
| | - Weng Ngai Lam
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore
| | - Kwek Yan Chong
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Science Drive 4, Singapore City, 117558, Singapore
- Singapore Botanic Gardens, National Parks Board, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore City, 259 569, Singapore
| | - Matthias S E Chua
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Science Drive 4, Singapore City, 117558, Singapore
| | - Pei Yun Teo
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore
| | - Daniel W J Lee
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore
| | - Shi Yu Phua
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore
| | - Cheryl Y Aw
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore
| | - Janice S H Lee
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore
| | - David A Wardle
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore
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Awuah J, Smith SW, Speed JDM, Graae BJ. Can seasonal fire management reduce the risk of carbon loss from wildfires in a protected Guinea savanna? Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joana Awuah
- Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
- School of Forest Sciences University of Eastern Finland Joensuu Finland
| | - Stuart W. Smith
- Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
- Department of Physical Geography Stockholm University Stockholm Sweden
| | - James D. M. Speed
- Department of Natural History NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Bente J. Graae
- Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
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The Effects of Fire Disturbance on Litter Decomposition and C:N:P Stoichiometry in a Larix gmelinii Forest Ecosystem of Boreal China. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13071029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Fire disturbance can affect the function of the boreal forest ecosystem through litter decomposition and nutrient element return. In this study, we selected the Larix gmelinii forest, a typical forest ecosystem in boreal China, to explore the effect of different years (3 years, 9 years, 28 years) after high burn severity fire disturbance on the decomposition rate (k) of leaf litter and the Carbon:Nitrogen:Phosphorus (C:N:P) stoichiometry characteristics. Our results indicated that compared with the unburned control stands, the k increased by 91–109% within 9 years after fire disturbance, but 28 years after fire disturbance the decomposition rate of the upper litter decreased by 45% compared with the unburned control stands. After fire disturbance, litter decomposition in boreal forests can be promoted in the short term (e.g., 9 years after a fire) and inhibited in the long term (e.g., 28 years after a fire). Changes in litter nutrient elements caused by the effect of fire disturbance on litter decomposition and on the C, N, and C:N of litter were the main litter stoichiometry factors for litter decomposition 28 years after fire disturbance. The findings of this research characterize the long-term dynamic change of litter decomposition in the boreal forest ecosystem, providing data and theoretical support for further exploring the relationship between fire and litter decomposition.
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Val J, Eldridge DJ. Invasion of an exotic annual forb affects grass‐feeding termites in a semi‐arid woodland. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James Val
- Department of Planning, and Environment Science, Economics and Insights Division P.O. Box 363 Buronga New South Wales 2739 Australia
| | - David J. Eldridge
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences Centre for Ecosystem Science University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Department of Planning, and Environment School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
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Arrey G, Li G, Murphy R, Guimaraes L, Alizadeh S, Poulsen M, Regenberg B. Isolation, characterization, and genome assembly of Barnettozyma botsteinii sp. nov. and novel strains of Kurtzmaniella quercitrusa isolated from the intestinal tract of the termite Macrotermes bellicosus. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2021; 11:jkab342. [PMID: 34586397 PMCID: PMC8664483 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Bioconversion of hemicelluloses into simpler sugars leads to the production of a significant amount of pentose sugars, such as d-xylose. However, efficient utilization of pentoses by conventional yeast production strains remains challenging. Wild yeast strains can provide new industrially relevant characteristics and efficiently utilize pentose sugars. To explore this strategy, we isolated gut-residing yeasts from the termite Macrotermes bellicosus collected in Comoé National Park, Côte d'Ivoire. The yeasts were classified through their Internal Transcribed Spacer/Large Subunit sequence, and their genomes were sequenced and annotated. We identified a novel yeast species, which we name Barnettozyma botsteinii sp. nov. 1118T (MycoBank: 833563, CBS 16679T and IBT 710) and two new strains of Kurtzmaniella quercitrusa: var. comoensis (CBS 16678, IBT 709) and var. filamentosus (CBS 16680, IBT 711). The two K. quercitrusa strains grow 15% faster on synthetic glucose medium than Saccharomyces cerevisiae CEN.PKT in acidic conditions (pH = 3.2) and both strains grow on d-xylose as the sole carbon source at a rate of 0.35 h-1. At neutral pH, the yeast form of K. quercitrusa var. filamentosus, but not var. comoensis, switched to filamentous growth in a carbon source-dependent manner. Their genomes are 11.0-13.2 Mb in size and contain between 4888 and 5475 predicted genes. Together with closely related species, we did not find any relationship between gene content and ability to grow on xylose. Besides its metabolism, K. quercitrusa var. filamentosus has a large potential as a production organism, because of its capacity to grow at low pH and to undergo a dimorphic shift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Arrey
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1165, Denmark
| | - Guangshuo Li
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1165, Denmark
| | - Robert Murphy
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1165, Denmark
| | - Leandro Guimaraes
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1165, Denmark
| | - Sefa Alizadeh
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1165, Denmark
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1165, Denmark
| | - Birgitte Regenberg
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1165, Denmark
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