Decoupled responses of tree and shrub leaf and litter trait values to ecosystem retrogression across an island area gradient

Lagerström, Anna; Nilsson Hegethorn, Marie-Charlotte; Wardle, David

doi:10.1007/s11104-012-1159-x

Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2013

Decoupled responses of tree and shrub leaf and litter trait values to ecosystem retrogression across an island area gradient

Lagerström, Anna; Nilsson Hegethorn, Marie-Charlotte; Wardle, David

Abstract

Our results only partially agree with previous studies on temperate and subtropical retrogressive chronosequences. Because traits of only shrubs were responsive, they also highlight that impairment of belowground ecosystem processes during retrogression is primarily driven by changes in the trait spectra of understory vegetation rather than that of the trees.

Keywords

Decomposition; Ecosystemdevelopment; Plant traits; Retrogression; Succession

Published in

Plant and Soil
2013, volume: 367, number: 1-2, pages: 183-197
Publisher: SPRINGER

Authors' information

Lagerström, Anna

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Ecology and Management

Nilsson Hegethorn, Marie-Charlotte

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Ecology and Management

Wardle, David

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Ecology and Management

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1159-x

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/52612