Mistletoes and epiphytic lichens contribute to litter input in Nothofagus antarctica forests

Litter input is one of the key components that define nutrient cycling in forests and the majority of studies only consider the tree components of litterfall. However, epiphytic species can play a crucial role in litter input throughout the growing season. This work evaluates changes in litter pro...

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Main Authors: Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde, Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José, Lencinas, María Vanessa, Peri, Pablo Luis
Format: Artículo
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/3162
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X15300011?via%3Dihub
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2015.06.005
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author Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde
Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José
Lencinas, María Vanessa
Peri, Pablo Luis
author_browse Lencinas, María Vanessa
Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José
Peri, Pablo Luis
Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde
author_facet Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde
Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José
Lencinas, María Vanessa
Peri, Pablo Luis
author_sort Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde
collection INTA Digital
description Litter input is one of the key components that define nutrient cycling in forests and the majority of studies only consider the tree components of litterfall. However, epiphytic species can play a crucial role in litter input throughout the growing season. This work evaluates changes in litter production by mistletoe (Misodendrum sp.) and epiphytic lichen (Usnea sp.), related to crown cover in mature unmanaged, second-growth and managed (thinned for silvopastoral use) forests in Tierra del Fuego (Argentina). We used plastic traps to collect litterfall biomass from trees, lichens and mistletoes on a monthly basis over three consecutive years. Tree litter was considerable during autumn (March to May), which is typical of Nothofagus deciduous species in the Southern hemisphere. In contrast, peak litterfall from mistletoes and lichens occurred during spring and summer seasons. Tree litter (1954e3398 kg dry matter ha 1 year 1) was correlated with crown cover gradient being highest in second-growth forests and lowest in thinned sites. While litter input from mistletoes did not vary among forest types (307 e333 kg dry matter ha 1 year 1), lichen litter (11e40 kg dry matter ha 1 year 1) was higher in unmanaged and thinned mature forests despite differences in tree crown cover. Contrary to what we expected, the management practices investigated here did not affect the biomass of canopy communities compared to unmanaged mature forests. Mistletoes and lichens significantly increased the spatial (forest type) and temporal complexity (extended period of falling) of litterfall in Nothofagus antarctica forests. This study provides a starting point to understand the ecological relevance of canopy communities in the Patagonian forests of southern Argentina.
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spelling INTA31622018-08-23T13:24:44Z Mistletoes and epiphytic lichens contribute to litter input in Nothofagus antarctica forests Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José Lencinas, María Vanessa Peri, Pablo Luis Nothofagus Viscum Album Líquenes Hojarasca Forestal Agroforesteria Cubierta de Copas Ordenación Forestal Tierra del Fuego Lichenes Forest Litter Agroforestry Canopy Forest Management Nothofagus Antarctica Muérdago Mistletoe Hemiparasitic Plants Litter input is one of the key components that define nutrient cycling in forests and the majority of studies only consider the tree components of litterfall. However, epiphytic species can play a crucial role in litter input throughout the growing season. This work evaluates changes in litter production by mistletoe (Misodendrum sp.) and epiphytic lichen (Usnea sp.), related to crown cover in mature unmanaged, second-growth and managed (thinned for silvopastoral use) forests in Tierra del Fuego (Argentina). We used plastic traps to collect litterfall biomass from trees, lichens and mistletoes on a monthly basis over three consecutive years. Tree litter was considerable during autumn (March to May), which is typical of Nothofagus deciduous species in the Southern hemisphere. In contrast, peak litterfall from mistletoes and lichens occurred during spring and summer seasons. Tree litter (1954e3398 kg dry matter ha 1 year 1) was correlated with crown cover gradient being highest in second-growth forests and lowest in thinned sites. While litter input from mistletoes did not vary among forest types (307 e333 kg dry matter ha 1 year 1), lichen litter (11e40 kg dry matter ha 1 year 1) was higher in unmanaged and thinned mature forests despite differences in tree crown cover. Contrary to what we expected, the management practices investigated here did not affect the biomass of canopy communities compared to unmanaged mature forests. Mistletoes and lichens significantly increased the spatial (forest type) and temporal complexity (extended period of falling) of litterfall in Nothofagus antarctica forests. This study provides a starting point to understand the ecological relevance of canopy communities in the Patagonian forests of southern Argentina. EEA Santa Cruz Fil: Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas. Laboratorio de Recursos Forestales; Argentina Fil: Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas. Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; Argentina Fil: Lencinas, María Vanessa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas. Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; Argentina Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina 2018-08-23T13:16:31Z 2018-08-23T13:16:31Z 2015-10 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/3162 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X15300011?via%3Dihub 1146-609X https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2015.06.005 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess application/pdf Elsevier Acta oecologica 68 : 11-17. (October 2015)
spellingShingle Nothofagus
Viscum Album
Líquenes
Hojarasca Forestal
Agroforesteria
Cubierta de Copas
Ordenación Forestal
Tierra del Fuego
Lichenes
Forest Litter
Agroforestry
Canopy
Forest Management
Nothofagus Antarctica
Muérdago
Mistletoe
Hemiparasitic Plants
Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde
Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José
Lencinas, María Vanessa
Peri, Pablo Luis
Mistletoes and epiphytic lichens contribute to litter input in Nothofagus antarctica forests
title Mistletoes and epiphytic lichens contribute to litter input in Nothofagus antarctica forests
title_full Mistletoes and epiphytic lichens contribute to litter input in Nothofagus antarctica forests
title_fullStr Mistletoes and epiphytic lichens contribute to litter input in Nothofagus antarctica forests
title_full_unstemmed Mistletoes and epiphytic lichens contribute to litter input in Nothofagus antarctica forests
title_short Mistletoes and epiphytic lichens contribute to litter input in Nothofagus antarctica forests
title_sort mistletoes and epiphytic lichens contribute to litter input in nothofagus antarctica forests
topic Nothofagus
Viscum Album
Líquenes
Hojarasca Forestal
Agroforesteria
Cubierta de Copas
Ordenación Forestal
Tierra del Fuego
Lichenes
Forest Litter
Agroforestry
Canopy
Forest Management
Nothofagus Antarctica
Muérdago
Mistletoe
Hemiparasitic Plants
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/3162
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X15300011?via%3Dihub
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2015.06.005
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