Peatland plant functional type effects on decomposition factors are non-pervasive, but microhabitat dependent

Peatland plant functional type effects on decomposition factors are non-pervasive, but microhabitat dependent | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Peatland plant functional type effects on decomposition factors are non-pervasive, but microhabitat dependent Najam e Sahar, Bjorn JM Robroek, Robert TE Mills, Marc G Dumont, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1514002/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Despite their low primary production, ombrotrophic peatlands are important long-term sinks for atmospheric carbon due to even lower rates of litter decomposition. Litter decomposition can be affected by plant functional types (PFTs; Graminoids, Ericoids) and microhabitat (hummock, lawn), but the microhabitat context-dependency of PFT effects on decomposition processes remains poorly understood. We used a long-term (> 10 yr) plant removal experiment, in conjunction with the Tea Bag Index (TBI), to explore how PFT removal in both hummock and lawn microhabitats influence decomposition. In parallel, we assessed potential activity of five extracellular hydrolytic enzymes as proxies for microbial activity. Our results indicate that PFT removal had no effect on the TBI decomposition constant ( k ), nor on the stabilisation factor (S). Yet, k increased slightly when both PFTs were absent. In the lawns, we observed higher values of S as compared to hummocks. A similar trend was observed for the decomposition rate constant ( k ). PFT compostion influenced the potential hyrolytic EEAs underlying decomposition process, however this influence was non-pervasive and depended on microhabitat. Our results suggest an important role for vegetation change – through their influence on enzyme activity – along the lawn-hummock gradient in regulating decomposition processes in northern peatlands. Our results highlight it is important to monitor the interplay between plant functional type composition and microhabitat in order to understand decomposition processes in peatlands. Decomposition Extracellular Enzyme Activity Microhabitat Peatland Plant functional types Tea Bag Index (TBI) Full Text Supplementary Files Najamabstractnativelanguageweltands.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 18 Apr, 2022 Reviewers invited by journal 15 Apr, 2022 Editor invited by journal 11 Apr, 2022 Editor assigned by journal 04 Apr, 2022 First submitted to journal 01 Apr, 2022 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-1514002","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":95889846,"identity":"e4b055f7-32dc-4d6b-a691-b29e4ee66493","order_by":0,"name":"Najam e Sahar","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Southampton","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Najam","middleName":"e","lastName":"Sahar","suffix":""},{"id":95889847,"identity":"183e81e7-bc27-4649-a16c-165e73712e27","order_by":1,"name":"Bjorn JM 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Litter decomposition can be affected by plant functional types (PFTs; Graminoids, Ericoids) and microhabitat (hummock, lawn), but the microhabitat context-dependency of PFT effects on decomposition processes remains poorly understood. We used a long-term (\u0026gt; 10 yr) plant removal experiment, in conjunction with the Tea Bag Index (TBI), to explore how PFT removal in both hummock and lawn microhabitats influence decomposition. In parallel, we assessed potential activity of five extracellular hydrolytic enzymes as proxies for microbial activity. Our results indicate that PFT removal had no effect on the TBI decomposition constant ( k ), nor on the stabilisation factor (S). Yet, k increased slightly when both PFTs were absent. In the lawns, we observed higher values of S as compared to hummocks. A similar trend was observed for the decomposition rate constant ( k ). PFT compostion influenced the potential hyrolytic EEAs underlying decomposition process, however this influence was non-pervasive and depended on microhabitat. Our results suggest an important role for vegetation change – through their influence on enzyme activity – along the lawn-hummock gradient in regulating decomposition processes in northern peatlands. 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