- Title
- Nutrient release dynamics associated with native and invasive leaf litter decomposition: a Mesocosm Experiment
- Creator
- Mutshekwa, Thendo, Cuthbert, Ross N, Wasserman, Ryan J, Murungweni, Florence M, Dalu, Tatenda
- Date
- 2020
- Type
- text
- Type
- article
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10962/160467
- Identifier
- vital:40448
- Identifier
- https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092350
- Description
- Leaf litter contributes to the functioning of aquatic ecosystems through allochthonous inputs of carbon, nitrogen, and other elements. Here, we examine leaf litter nutrient inputs and decomposition associated with four plant species using a mesocosm approach. Native sycamore fig Ficus sycomorus L., and silver cluster–leaf Terminalia sericea Burch. ex DC. decomposition dynamics were compared to invasive tickberry Lantana camara L. and guava Psidium guajava L., whereby phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, silicate, and ammonium releases were quantified over time. Leaf inputs significantly reduced pH, with reductions most marked by invasive L. camara. Conductivity was heightened by all leaf input treatments, except native T. sericea.
- Format
- 13 pages, pdf
- Language
- English
- Relation
- Water, Mutshekwa, T., Cuthbert, R.N., Wasserman, R.J., Murungweni, F.M. and Dalu, T., 2020. Nutrient release dynamics associated with native and invasive leaf litter decomposition: a Mesocosm Experiment. Water, 12(9), p.2350, Water volume 12 number 9 p.2350 July 2020 2073-4441
- Rights
- Publishers
- Rights
- Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the MDPI Open Access Statement (https://www.int-res.com/journals/terms-of-use/)
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Wasserman, Ryan J (Assoc Prof)
RU Department of Zoology and Entomology
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details | SOURCE1 | Nutrient Release Dynamics Associated with Native and Invasive Leaf Litter Decomposition.pdf | 2 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details |