Stream ecosystems and their riparian vegetation were studied all over the world, like this spring stream in a beech forest in Brandenburg. I Photo: IGB
Litter decomposition is a crucial process in stream ecosystems and plays a notable role in the exchange of carbon between the biosphere and atmosphere, implying potential feedbacks on climate. The globally coordinated study, which is unprecedented in its scope, identifies plant diversity as a major influence on litter decomposition.
The results of the research show that high functional litter diversity (e.g., in terms of toughness, nutrient content or the presence of toxins) stimulates decomposition more at low latitudes than in cooler climates, where fungal and bacterial decomposers used the diverse resources less efficiently than in the tropics. This suggests that stream ecosystem functioning could be particularly vulnerable to forest practices that are detrimental to native tropical forests.
“The study is an excellent example of how new insights can be gained today through the close cooperation of global networks of ecologists”, concluded Mark Gessner.
