Sunlight and Soil–Litter Mixing: Drivers of Litter Decomposition in Drylands

Paul W. Barnes; Heather L. Throop; Steven R. Archer; David D. Breshears; Rebecca L. McCulley; Mark A. Tobler

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-08807-5_11

Sunlight and Soil–Litter Mixing: Drivers of Litter Decomposition in Drylands

Paul W. Barnes
, Heather L. Throop
, Steven R. Archer
, David D. Breshears
, Rebecca L. McCulley
, Mark A. Tobler

Plant and Soil Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

Decomposition of leaf litter is a key component of biogeochemical cycles but the mechanisms driving it in arid and semiarid ecosystems (drylands) remain unresolved. Here, we review recent findings that demonstrate dual roles of solar radiation (ultraviolet and photosynthetically active radiation) and soil–litter mixing as drivers of decomposition in drylands. We focus on the known and potential mechanisms by which these factors influence leaf litter decomposition, explore how the importance of these two drivers may shift over time, and propose possible avenues by which these factors may interact. Special attention is given to UV in sunlight, as this radiation is known to have multiple roles in influencing decomposition and has received considerable recent research attention. We also identify important uncertainties and challenges and offer a generalized conceptual model to guide future research aimed at enhancing our mechanistic understanding and quantitative modeling of the processes by which soil deposition and solar radiation together influence leaf litter decomposition rates in globally extensive dryland ecosystems.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	273-302
Number of pages	30
Journal	Biogeochemistry
Volume	128
Issue number	1-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08807-5_11
State	Published - 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015, Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. All rights reserved.

Funding

Financial support was provided by the US National Science Foundation (DEB 0815897 [Loyola University], DEB 0815808 [New Mexico State University], DEB 0816162 [University of Arizona], DEB 0814461 [University of Kentucky]), the Loyola University J.H. Mullahy Endowment for Environmental Biology, and the Jornada Basin LTER (DEB 0618210). Additional support was provided by the Arizona and Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Stations, and the University of Arizona – Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Drylands Research Consortium (#15), and US National Science Foundation (EAR 0724958 and 1331408 [University of Arizona]). We thank Jason P. Field, Daniel B. Hewins, Dean Keller, Darin J. Law, Hanna Lee, Eva Levi, Cianna Logie, Rachel Power, Katie Predick, Theresa Melhem, and Lee Chedister for related research and discussions. Acknowledgments Financial support was provided by the US National Science Foundation (DEB 0815897 [Loyola University], DEB 0815808 [New Mexico State University], DEB 0816162 [University of Arizona], DEB 0814461 [University of Kentucky]), the Loyola University J.H. Mullahy Endowment for Environmental Biology, and the Jornada Basin LTER (DEB 0618210). Additional support was provided by the Arizona and Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Stations, and the University of Arizona – Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Drylands Research Consortium (#15), and US National Science Foundation (EAR 0724958 and 1331408 [University of Arizona]). We thank Jason P. Field, Daniel B. Hewins, Dean Keller, Darin J. Law, Hanna Lee, Eva Levi, Cianna Logie, Rachel Power, Katie Predick, Theresa Melhem, and Lee Chedister for related research and discussions.

Funders	Funder number
Arizona and Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Stations
Jornada Basin LTER	DEB 0618210
Lee Chedister
Loyola University of Chicago	DEB 0815808
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Drylands Research Consortium
National Science Foundation Arctic Social Science Program	DEB 0815897, EAR 0724958, 1331408
University of Northern Arizona	DEB 0814461
New Mexico State University, New York University	DEB 0816162

Keywords

Action Spectrum
Coarse Woody Debris
Litter Decomposition
Overland Flow
Soil Deposition

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Chemistry
Water Science and Technology
Earth-Surface Processes

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-319-08807-5_11

Cite this

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title = "Sunlight and Soil–Litter Mixing: Drivers of Litter Decomposition in Drylands",

abstract = "Decomposition of leaf litter is a key component of biogeochemical cycles but the mechanisms driving it in arid and semiarid ecosystems (drylands) remain unresolved. Here, we review recent findings that demonstrate dual roles of solar radiation (ultraviolet and photosynthetically active radiation) and soil–litter mixing as drivers of decomposition in drylands. We focus on the known and potential mechanisms by which these factors influence leaf litter decomposition, explore how the importance of these two drivers may shift over time, and propose possible avenues by which these factors may interact. Special attention is given to UV in sunlight, as this radiation is known to have multiple roles in influencing decomposition and has received considerable recent research attention. We also identify important uncertainties and challenges and offer a generalized conceptual model to guide future research aimed at enhancing our mechanistic understanding and quantitative modeling of the processes by which soil deposition and solar radiation together influence leaf litter decomposition rates in globally extensive dryland ecosystems.",

keywords = "Action Spectrum, Coarse Woody Debris, Litter Decomposition, Overland Flow, Soil Deposition",

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AU - McCulley, Rebecca L.

AU - Tobler, Mark A.

PY - 2015

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KW - Overland Flow

KW - Soil Deposition

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Sunlight and Soil–Litter Mixing: Drivers of Litter Decomposition in Drylands

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this