Litter decomposition is influenced by precipitation regime but not by single-tree selection harvesting in Nothofagus pumilio forests of western Patagonia.
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| Title: | Litter decomposition is influenced by precipitation regime but not by single-tree selection harvesting in Nothofagus pumilio forests of western Patagonia. |
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| Authors: | Soto, Daniel P.1 (AUTHOR) danielsoto@uc.cl |
| Source: | European Journal of Forest Research. Apr2025, Vol. 144 Issue 2, p337-347. 11p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Logging, *Forests & forestry, *Forest management, *Soil moisture, *Hydrologic cycle |
| Abstract: | Litter decomposition is a crucial process in forest ecosystems because it influences the balance of primary production and respiration, and it plays a vital role in maintaining soil health (e.g. nutrient cycling, soil fertility, water cycle and biodiversity). However, the combined effect of environment and silviculture on litter decomposition still needs to be thoroughly understood. Here, I examined the influence of precipitation regime and low-severity tree harvesting on litter decomposition in Nothofagus pumilio (lenga) forests from western Patagonia, Chile. I used the Tea Bag Index (TBI) to estimate the litter decomposition rate (kTBI) and stabilization (STBI) factor among precipitation regimes and low-severity harvesting treatments. In three randomized blocks within each precipitation regime (dry: 613 mm/yr mean annual precipitation, mesic: 817 mm/yr, wet: 994 mm/yr), I established three plots with varying harvesting severity (heavy: 35m2/ha of residual basal area, light: 45m2/ha, not harvested: 60m2/ha) resulting from the single-tree selection system (i.e. BDq approach). I buried pairs of green (labile) and rooibos (recalcitrant) tea bags in six random locations at each plot, and I installed a microclimate data logger in the center of each plot and took a hemispherical photograph above the position of tea bags to estimate the total transmitted radiation. Statistical analyses were based on two-way ANOVA to evaluate the effects of precipitation, harvesting and their interaction, and Generalized Linear Models to evaluate the effect of total transmitted radiation, soil temperature, and soil water content on kTBI and STBI. I found that precipitation significantly explained the variation in kTBI and STBI, which did not vary significantly in response to harvesting treatments, or the interaction between both. Moreover, model selection confirmed that precipitation best explained variation in kTBI and STBI, as microclimatic conditions were not included in the most parsimonious models. The results provide evidence that precipitation determines kTBI and STBI to a greater extent than low-severity harvesting in Nothofagus pumilio forests, and that this harvesting approach can mimic reasonably well the microclimatic conditions of unmanaged forests. Low-severity harvesting through single-tree selection could be a viable option for the silviculture of N. pumilio forest from western Patagonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Database: | Energy & Power Source |
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| Header | DbId: enr DbLabel: Energy & Power Source An: 184870781 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Litter decomposition is influenced by precipitation regime but not by single-tree selection harvesting in Nothofagus pumilio forests of western Patagonia. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Soto%2C+Daniel+P%2E%22">Soto, Daniel P.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> danielsoto@uc.cl</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22European+Journal+of+Forest+Research%22">European Journal of Forest Research</searchLink>. Apr2025, Vol. 144 Issue 2, p337-347. 11p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Logging%22">Logging</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Forests+%26+forestry%22">Forests & forestry</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Forest+management%22">Forest management</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Soil+moisture%22">Soil moisture</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hydrologic+cycle%22">Hydrologic cycle</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Litter decomposition is a crucial process in forest ecosystems because it influences the balance of primary production and respiration, and it plays a vital role in maintaining soil health (e.g. nutrient cycling, soil fertility, water cycle and biodiversity). However, the combined effect of environment and silviculture on litter decomposition still needs to be thoroughly understood. Here, I examined the influence of precipitation regime and low-severity tree harvesting on litter decomposition in Nothofagus pumilio (lenga) forests from western Patagonia, Chile. I used the Tea Bag Index (TBI) to estimate the litter decomposition rate (kTBI) and stabilization (STBI) factor among precipitation regimes and low-severity harvesting treatments. In three randomized blocks within each precipitation regime (dry: 613 mm/yr mean annual precipitation, mesic: 817 mm/yr, wet: 994 mm/yr), I established three plots with varying harvesting severity (heavy: 35m2/ha of residual basal area, light: 45m2/ha, not harvested: 60m2/ha) resulting from the single-tree selection system (i.e. BDq approach). I buried pairs of green (labile) and rooibos (recalcitrant) tea bags in six random locations at each plot, and I installed a microclimate data logger in the center of each plot and took a hemispherical photograph above the position of tea bags to estimate the total transmitted radiation. Statistical analyses were based on two-way ANOVA to evaluate the effects of precipitation, harvesting and their interaction, and Generalized Linear Models to evaluate the effect of total transmitted radiation, soil temperature, and soil water content on kTBI and STBI. I found that precipitation significantly explained the variation in kTBI and STBI, which did not vary significantly in response to harvesting treatments, or the interaction between both. Moreover, model selection confirmed that precipitation best explained variation in kTBI and STBI, as microclimatic conditions were not included in the most parsimonious models. The results provide evidence that precipitation determines kTBI and STBI to a greater extent than low-severity harvesting in Nothofagus pumilio forests, and that this harvesting approach can mimic reasonably well the microclimatic conditions of unmanaged forests. Low-severity harvesting through single-tree selection could be a viable option for the silviculture of N. pumilio forest from western Patagonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1007/s10342-025-01761-w Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 11 StartPage: 337 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Logging Type: general – SubjectFull: Forests & forestry Type: general – SubjectFull: Forest management Type: general – SubjectFull: Soil moisture Type: general – SubjectFull: Hydrologic cycle Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Litter decomposition is influenced by precipitation regime but not by single-tree selection harvesting in Nothofagus pumilio forests of western Patagonia. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Soto, Daniel P. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 04 Text: Apr2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 16124669 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 144 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: European Journal of Forest Research Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
