ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Plant Abiotic Stress
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1543011
This article is part of the Research TopicPlant Ecophysiology: Responses to Climate Changes and Stress ConditionsView all 34 articles
Elevation and seasonality modulate the leaf decomposition rates and nutrient flux of diverse species and species richness in karst river systems across China
Provisionally accepted
- Guilin Tourism University, Guilin, China
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Karst river systems (KRSs) are essential to regional biogeochemical cycling and are defined by their distinct geomorphological and hydrological features. Understanding the factors controlling litter decomposition and associated nutrient fluxes within these systems is essential for predicting ecosystem responses to environmental changes. While extensive research is underway on litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics, studies on the interactions between species richness and elevation across seasons in KRSs remain limited. This study investigates the effects of elevation (800 m, 110 m, and 60 m) and seasonality (spring and autumn) on foliage decomposition and associated nutrient fluxes in KRSs along the Li River in China. We examined the foliage decomposition of three species: Taxodium distichum (Linn.) Rich., Taxodium ascendens Brongn., and Salix matsudana Koidz. It included seven litter treatments in single-species and mixed-species litter bags (3 species in all single-, 2-and 3-species combinations). A total of 336 decomposition bags were used to measure leaf mass loss and nutrient release during two six-month periods at three elevations in the study area in 2023. Results revealed that seasonal changes significantly influenced initial leaf elemental concentrations, with spring samples showing the most pronounced effects. Elevation had more effect on mass loss than litter treatments, with distinct nutrient release patterns observed across different elevations. Among single species, S. matsudana exhibited the highest mass loss and nutrient release at lower elevations during spring, while T. ascendens showed the lowest rates in autumn at high elevations. Mixed-species treatments displayed different decomposition patterns, with mass loss and nutrient release following the sequence: T. distichum × T. ascendens × S. matsudana < T. ascendens × S. matsudana < T. distichum × S. matsudana < T. distichum × T. ascendens. Nutrient release in mixed species showed significant interactions with elevation and season, displaying both positive and negative non-additive effects. Correlation analysis indicated stronger relationships between nutrient release and mass loss in S. matsudana than in T. distichum and T. ascendens. This study underscores the intricate interactions between biotic and abiotic factors in KRSs. It highlights the importance of considering elevation and seasonal dynamics in ecological restoration efforts in KRSs.
Keywords: Single species, Mixed species, leaf decomposition, River ecosystems, Karst ecosystems, Nutrients
Received: 10 Dec 2024; Accepted: 16 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Chen, Arif and Tian. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Muhammad Arif, Guilin Tourism University, Guilin, China
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