PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 2: Forest Ecology
Monday, August 8, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Effects of forest management on mixed leaf litter decomposition in MOFEP.
Li, Qinglin*,1, Moorhead, Daryl1, Chen, Jiquan1, DeForest, Jared1, Johnason, Mark2, 1 The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA2 The Missouri Department of Conservation RR2 Box198, Ellington, MO, USA
ABSTRACT- We monitored decomposition of mixed leaf litter (Quercus spp., Juglans spp., and Pinus echinata) decomposition 8 years after experimental manipulation of a Missouri Ozark forest. Treatments were clear-cut (CC), intermediate cut (IC), and control (CON). Mass losses and changes in carbon chemistry (water soluble, acid soluble, and acid insoluble) of litter were measured after 19 months to determine: (i) if decomposition in clear-cut stands was faster than other stands, (ii) if leaf litter decomposed faster in oak (O) sties than in oak-hickory (OH) or in oak-pine (OP) sites, and (iii) if initial leaf letter carbon chemistry was correlated to decomposition rate. The coefficient of decay (k) was 0.58 (±0.025, CC), 0.45 (±0.016, IC), and 0.44 (±0.010, CON). There were significant treatments (F = 27.76, P = 0.001) effects and species (F= 5.33, P = 0.007) composition effects. The CC (59%) stands mass loss was faster than IC (50%) and CON (49%) stands during the 19 months periods. The oak – hickory (52%) sites mass loss was faster then oak – pine (49%) sites, but there was no significant difference between oak (51%) and other two sites. The initial leaf litter carbon chemistry did not have significantly relationship with leaf litter decomposition. This study indicated that forest management activities and litter qualities are the factors affect leaf litter decomposition, and the decay rates were influenced by the degree of harvesting.
Key words: Leaf litter decomposition, Decomposition, Oak-hickory-pine forest, MOFEP (Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project)