Leaf decomposition and flammability are largely decoupled across species in a tropical swamp forest despite sharing some predictive leaf functional traits.

Autor: Rahman NEB; Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore., Smith SW; Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore.; Ecology, Conservation and Zoonosis Research and Enterprise Group, School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton, Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 4GJ, UK., Lam WN; Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore., Chong KY; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Science Drive 4, Singapore City, 117558, Singapore.; Singapore Botanic Gardens, National Parks Board, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore City, 259 569, Singapore., Chua MSE; Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore.; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Science Drive 4, Singapore City, 117558, Singapore., Teo PY; Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore., Lee DWJ; Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore., Phua SY; Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore., Aw CY; Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore., Lee JSH; Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore., Wardle DA; Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore City, 637459, Singapore.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: The New phytologist [New Phytol] 2023 Apr; Vol. 238 (2), pp. 598-611. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Feb 22.
DOI: 10.1111/nph.18742
Abstrakt: Decomposition and fire are major carbon pathways in many ecosystems, yet potential linkages between these processes are poorly understood. We test whether variability in decomposability and flammability across species are related to each other and to key plant functional traits in tropical swamp forests, where habitat degradation is elevating decomposition and fire regimes. Using senesced and fresh leaves of 22 swamp tree species in Singapore, we conducted an in situ decomposition experiment and a laboratory flammability experiment. We analysed 16 leaf physical and biochemical traits as predictors of decomposability and components of flammability: combustibility, ignitability and sustainability. Decomposability and flammability were largely decoupled across species, despite some shared predictive traits such as specific leaf area (SLA). Physical traits predicted that thicker leaves with a smaller SLA and volume decomposed faster, while various cation concentrations predicted flammability components, particularly ignitability. We show that flammability and decomposability of swamp forest leaves are decoupled because flammability is mostly driven by biochemical traits, while decomposition is driven by physical traits. Our approach identifies species that are slow to decompose and burn (e.g. Calophyllum tetrapterum and Xanthophyllum flavescens), which could be planted to mitigate carbon losses in tropical swamp reforestation.
(© 2023 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2023 New Phytologist Foundation.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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