Drivers of above-ground understorey biomass and nutrient stocks in temperate deciduous forests
Publikation: Beiträge in Zeitschriften › Zeitschriftenaufsätze › Forschung › begutachtet
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in: Journal of Ecology, Jahrgang 108, Nr. 3, 01.05.2020, S. 982-997.
Publikation: Beiträge in Zeitschriften › Zeitschriftenaufsätze › Forschung › begutachtet
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Drivers of above-ground understorey biomass and nutrient stocks in temperate deciduous forests
AU - Landuyt, Dries
AU - Maes, Sybryn L.
AU - Depauw, Leen
AU - Ampoorter, Evy
AU - Blondeel, Haben
AU - Perring, Michael P.
AU - Brūmelis, Guntis
AU - Brunet, Jörg
AU - Decocq, Guillaume
AU - den Ouden, Jan
AU - Härdtle, Werner
AU - Hédl, Radim
AU - Heinken, Thilo
AU - Heinrichs, Steffi
AU - Jaroszewicz, Bogdan
AU - Kirby, Keith J.
AU - Kopecký, Martin
AU - Máliš, František
AU - Wulf, Monika
AU - Verheyen, Kris
PY - 2020/5/1
Y1 - 2020/5/1
N2 - The understorey in temperate forests can play an important functional role, depending on its biomass and functional characteristics. While it is known that local soil and stand characteristics largely determine the biomass of the understorey, less is known about the role of global change. Global change can directly affect understorey biomass, but also indirectly by modifying the overstorey, local resource availability and growing conditions at the forest floor. In this observational study across Europe, we aim at disentangling the impact of global-change drivers on understorey biomass and nutrient stocks, from the impact of overstorey characteristics and local site conditions. Using piecewise structural equation modelling, we determine the main drivers of understorey biomass and nutrient stocks in these forests and examine potential direct and indirect effects of global-change drivers. Tree cover, tree litter quality and differences in former land use were the main drivers of understorey biomass and nutrient stocks, via their influence on understorey light and nitrogen availability and soil acidity. Other global-change drivers, including climate and nitrogen deposition, had similar indirect effects, but these were either weak or only affecting nutrient concentrations, not stocks. Synthesis. We found that direct effects of global-change drivers on understorey biomass and nutrient stocks were absent. The indirect effects of global change, through influencing resource availability and growing conditions at the forest floor, were found to be less important than the effects of overstorey cover and composition. These results suggest that understorey biomass and nutrient stocks might respond less to global change in the presence of a dense overstorey, highlighting the buffering role of the overstorey in temperate forests.
AB - The understorey in temperate forests can play an important functional role, depending on its biomass and functional characteristics. While it is known that local soil and stand characteristics largely determine the biomass of the understorey, less is known about the role of global change. Global change can directly affect understorey biomass, but also indirectly by modifying the overstorey, local resource availability and growing conditions at the forest floor. In this observational study across Europe, we aim at disentangling the impact of global-change drivers on understorey biomass and nutrient stocks, from the impact of overstorey characteristics and local site conditions. Using piecewise structural equation modelling, we determine the main drivers of understorey biomass and nutrient stocks in these forests and examine potential direct and indirect effects of global-change drivers. Tree cover, tree litter quality and differences in former land use were the main drivers of understorey biomass and nutrient stocks, via their influence on understorey light and nitrogen availability and soil acidity. Other global-change drivers, including climate and nitrogen deposition, had similar indirect effects, but these were either weak or only affecting nutrient concentrations, not stocks. Synthesis. We found that direct effects of global-change drivers on understorey biomass and nutrient stocks were absent. The indirect effects of global change, through influencing resource availability and growing conditions at the forest floor, were found to be less important than the effects of overstorey cover and composition. These results suggest that understorey biomass and nutrient stocks might respond less to global change in the presence of a dense overstorey, highlighting the buffering role of the overstorey in temperate forests.
KW - ecosystem functioning
KW - ground layer
KW - herb layer
KW - PhytoCalc
KW - piecewise SEM
KW - productivity
KW - Ecosystems Research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85076424331&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/1365-2745.13318
DO - 10.1111/1365-2745.13318
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:85076424331
VL - 108
SP - 982
EP - 997
JO - Journal of Ecology
JF - Journal of Ecology
SN - 0022-0477
IS - 3
ER -