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Decomposition processes interacting with microtopography maintain ecosystem heterogeneity in a subalpine grassland

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Abstract

Aims

Grasslands are among the largest ecosystems in the world and store up to 30% of the global reserves of carbon. Decomposition processes have a crucial role in maintaining carbon balance, but few studies have investigated the heterogeneity of this process at small scale, especially in alpine ecosystems. We aimed at investigating the interactions between decomposition and environmental heterogeneity at microscale (i.e. elevation gradient <1 m) in a subalpine grassland on the western Italian Alps characterised by the presence of parallel hummock and hollow areas.

Methods

In the study area we monitored microenvironmental drivers (soil temperature and soil water content), plant distribution and decomposition. The latter was studied through a litter bags approach followed by elemental analysis, 13C NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies.

Results

Microtopography exerted a direct and indirect control over litter decomposition by affecting plant species distribution and microclimatic conditions. The different elemental and biochemical properties of plants, interacting with microtopography, led to a higher decomposition rate of forb than grass litter, and in hollow than in hummock areas. The observed differences were both quanti- and qualitative.

Conclusions

Decomposition processes bridge the gap between plant community structure and ecosystem functioning, determining a feedback mechanism that maintains ecosystem heterogeneity at the microscale.

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Acknowledgements

A special thanks to Valentina Mello, Roberta Negri and Guido Teppa for their help during field work, to Marco Prati for his kind support in the lab, and to Compagnia San Paolo for funding my PhD project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Pier Andrea Mattioli 25, 10125, Turin, Italy

    L. Oddi, G. Palestini & C. Siniscalco

  2. Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095, Grugliasco, TO, Italy

    L. Celi

  3. Environmental Protection Agency of Aosta Valley (ARPA VdA), Località Grande Charrière 44, 11020, Saint-Christophe, AO, Italy

    E. Cremonese, G. Filippa & M. Galvagno

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  1. L. Oddi
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  2. L. Celi
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  4. G. Filippa
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  5. M. Galvagno
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  6. G. Palestini
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  7. C. Siniscalco
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Correspondence to L. Oddi.

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Oddi, L., Celi, L., Cremonese, E. et al. Decomposition processes interacting with microtopography maintain ecosystem heterogeneity in a subalpine grassland. Plant Soil 434, 379–395 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-018-3842-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-018-3842-z

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