Global contribution of invertebrates to forest litter decomposition

Forest litter decomposition is an essential component of global carbon and nutrient turnover. Invertebrates play important roles in litter decomposition, but the regional pattern of their effects is poorly understood. We examined 476 case studies across 93 sites and performed a meta‐analysis to esti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology letters 2024-04, Vol.27 (4), p.e14423-n/a
Main Authors: Zeng, Xiaoyi, Gao, Huilin, Wang, Runxi, Majcher, Bartosz M., Woon, Joel S., Wenda, Cheng, Eggleton, Paul, Griffiths, Hannah M., Ashton, Louise A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biodiversity
climate
Climate change
Decomposition
earthworms
Ecosystem
Ecosystem services
Forests
Human impact
Invertebrates
Litter
litter decomposition
meta‐analysis
Plant Leaves
Soil - chemistry
soil condition
Soil pH
termites
Tropical environments
Tropical forests
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Summary:Forest litter decomposition is an essential component of global carbon and nutrient turnover. Invertebrates play important roles in litter decomposition, but the regional pattern of their effects is poorly understood. We examined 476 case studies across 93 sites and performed a meta‐analysis to estimate regional effects of invertebrates on forest litter decomposition. We then assessed how invertebrate diversity, climate and soil pH drive regional variations in invertebrate‐mediated decomposition. We found that (1) invertebrate contributions to litter decomposition are 1.4 times higher in tropical and subtropical forests than in forests elsewhere, with an overall contribution of 31% to global forest litter decomposition; and (2) termite diversity, together with warm, humid and acidic environments in the tropics and subtropics are positively associated with forest litter decomposition by invertebrates. Our results demonstrate the significant difference in invertebrate effects on mediating forest litter decomposition among regions. We demonstrate, also, the significance of termites in driving litter mass loss in the tropics and subtropics. These results are particularly pertinent in the tropics and subtropics where climate change and human disturbance threaten invertebrate biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides. Invertebrates play important roles in litter decomposition, but the regional pattern of their effects is poorly understood. We found that invertebrate contributions to litter decomposition are 1.4 times higher in tropical and subtropical forests than forests elsewhere, with an overall contribution of 31% to global forest litter decomposition. Termite diversity, together with warm, humid and acidic environments in the tropics and subtropics are positively associated with forest litter decomposition by invertebrates.
ISSN:1461-023X
1461-0248
DOI:10.1111/ele.14423