The importance of litter traits and decomposers for litter decomposition a comparison of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems within and across biomes

• Published in: Functional ecology Vol. 30; no. 5; pp. 819 - 829
• Main Authors: García-Palacios, Pablo, McKie, Brendan G., Handa, Ira Tanya, Frainer, André, Hättenschwiler, Stephan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Wiley 01.05.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Aquatic ecosystems; biochemical pathways; Calcium; carbon; carbon cycle; Complexity; Decomposition; Ecology; Ecosystem assessment; Ecosystem ecology; Ecosystems; Ekologi; energy; Environment models; Environmental conditions; environmental factors; fauna; Fertility; Floors; Forest floor; forest floors; forest litter; forests; Freshwater ecosystems; Leaf litter; Leaves; Lignin; litter carbon loss; litter micronutrients; litter nitrogen loss; Macrofauna; Magnesium; Micronutrients; microorganisms; nitrogen; Nutrients; prediction; Soil fertility; Soil water; Soils; Stoichiometry; Streams; Terrestrial ecosystems; Terrestrial environments; Tropical environments; tropics

Summary Plant leaf litter comprises the major common source of energy and nutrients in forested soil and freshwater ecosystems world‐wide. However, despite the similarity of physical and biochemical processes, generalizations across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems regarding litter decomposition d...