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Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci

Title:		"Climate change effects on macrofaunal litter decomposition: the interplay of temperature, body masses and stoichiometry"
Author(s):		Ott D; Rall BC; Brose U;
Address:		"J. F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, Georg-August University, Berliner Strasse 28, 37073 Gottingen, Germany. dott@gwdg.de"
Journal Title:		Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci
Year:		2012
Volume:		367
Issue:		1605
Page Number:		3025 - 3032
DOI:		10.1098/rstb.2012.0240
ISSN/ISBN:		1471-2970 (Electronic) 0962-8436 (Print) 0962-8436 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Macrofauna invertebrates of forest floors provide important functions in the decomposition process of soil organic matter, which is affected by the nutrient stoichiometry of the leaf litter. Climate change effects on forest ecosystems include warming and decreasing litter quality (e.g. higher C : nutrient ratios) induced by higher atmospheric CO(2) concentrations. While litter-bag experiments unravelled separate effects, a mechanistic understanding of how interactions between temperature and litter stoichiometry are driving decomposition rates is lacking. In a laboratory experiment, we filled this void by quantifying decomposer consumption rates analogous to predator-prey functional responses that include the mechanistic parameters handling time and attack rate. Systematically, we varied the body masses of isopods, the environmental temperature and the resource between poor (hornbeam) and good quality (ash). We found that attack rates increased and handling times decreased (i) with body masses and (ii) temperature. Interestingly, these relationships interacted with litter quality: small isopods possibly avoided the poorer resource, whereas large isopods exhibited increased, compensatory feeding of the poorer resource, which may be explained by their higher metabolic demands. The combination of metabolic theory and ecological stoichiometry provided critically important mechanistic insights into how warming and varying litter quality may modify macrofaunal decomposition rates"
Keywords:		"Animals Betulaceae/metabolism/physiology Body Size *Body Weight Carbon Dioxide/metabolism *Climate Change Ecosystem Herbivory Isopoda/*physiology Models, Biological Plant Leaves/*metabolism Soil/analysis *Temperature;"
Notes:		"MedlineOtt, David Rall, Bjorn C Brose, Ulrich eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2012/09/26 Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2012 Nov 5; 367(1605):3025-32. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0240"