Comparación experimental de la tasa de descomposición foliar de especies vegetales del centro-oeste de Argentina

Authors

  • Natalia Pérez Harguindeguy Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Casilla de Correo 495, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
  • Sandra Díaz Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Casilla de Correo 495, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
  • J.H.C. (Hans) Cornelissen NERC Unit of Comparative Plant Ecology, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield SIO 2TN, United Kingdom
  • Marcelo Cabido Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Casilla de Correo 495, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina

Abstract

Litter decomposition in the soilis one of the main processes in ecosystem functioning. Besides chemical environmental conditions and species composition of soil communities,litter quality of different species has a strong influence on this process. The aim of this study was to experimentally quantify the decomposition rates of leaf litter of a wide range of plant species from central-western Argentina. Fifty two plant species were selected, covering a wide range of families and life forms. Ten litter samples of each species were buried simultaneously in an experimental decomposition bed during 9 and 18 summer weeks. Decomposition rate was defined as the percentage of dry mass loss after 9 or 18 weeks of burial. Decomposition rates in both treatments were highly correlated. Decomposition rate was similar among plant families, but differed among functional groups. Herbaceous dicots and deciduous woody plants decomposed faster than evergreen woody, bromelioid, succulent and aphyllous functional groups. Graminoids showed relatively slow decomposition rates, similar to those of woody evergreen species. These results contribute to the understanding of the role of dominant species on the functioning of native ecosystems.

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Published

1997-12-01

How to Cite

Pérez Harguindeguy, N., Díaz, S., Cornelissen, J. (Hans), & Cabido, M. (1997). Comparación experimental de la tasa de descomposición foliar de especies vegetales del centro-oeste de Argentina. Ecología Austral, 7(2), 087–094. Retrieved from https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1642

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (1997)

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