Chemistry and toughness predict leaf litter decomposition rates over a wide spectrum of functional types and taxa in central Argentina

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 218; no. 1/2; pp. 21 - 30
• Main Authors: Perez-Harguindeguy, N, Diaz, S, Cornelissen, H.C, Vendramini, F, Cabido, M, Castellanos, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Kluwer Academic Publishers 2000; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Argentina; biogeochemical cycles; Biological and medical sciences; carbon; carbon nitrogen ratio; chemical composition; Chemical decomposition; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Chemistry; Decomposition; degradation; Ecological function; Ecosystems; Environmental factors; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; interspecific variation; Leaf litter; Leaves; Nitrogen; Organic matter; physical properties; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; plant communities; Plant litter; Plants; prediction; Resource allocation; Soil science; Species; species differences; Tensile strength; Terrestrial ecosystems; Toughness; vegetation; Argentina; South America; America; Carbon cycle; Climate; Organic matter; Nitrogen cycle; Litter; Interspecific comparison; Ecosystem; Angiospermae; Environmental factor; Spermatophyta; Decomposition; Biogeochemical cycle

Litter decomposition, a major determinant of ecosystem functioning, is strongly influenced by the litter quality of different species. We aimed at (1) relating interspecific variation in leaf litter decomposition rate to the functional types different species belong to; and (2) understanding the che...