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Aims <p>Plant litter often exists in mixed forms in natural ecosystems, where mixing effects can profoundly impact decomposition. Species rich in secondary metabolites may substantially alter decomposition when mixed with others, yet evidence under high secondary metabolite contexts remains scarce. This study aimed to investigate how <i>Eucalyptus globulus</i>, a species with high secondary metabolite levels, affects decomposition dynamics when mixed with litter from 20 co-occurring species.</p> Methods <p>We deployed 2214 litterbags combining <i>Eucalyptus</i> leaf litter and those from 20 co-occurring species. Litter mass loss was monitored periodically during 360&#xa0;days to assess temporal variation in mixing effects. We further evaluated the roles of community-weighted means (CWM) and functional diversity (FD) of leaf traits in driving mass loss.</p> Results <p>Decomposition was strongly regulated by seasonality. During the early stage, mixing effects were predominantly additive, while non-additive effects dominated and intensified over time during the late stage. The decomposition of 18 species was inhibited when mixed with <i>Eucalyptus</i> litter (3.70–35.3% reduction compared to single-species decomposition), whereas all species facilitated <i>Eucalyptus</i> litter decomposition, revealing an "inhibition–facilitation" trade–off. In addition, mass loss was primarily driven by CWM of leaf traits, with FD playing a minor role.</p> Conclusions <p>Mixed litter decomposition showed a non-additive, net synergistic effect even with species high in secondary metabolites. Performance trade-offs among species weakened the influence of leaf trait functional diversity on mass loss.</p>

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Non-additive effects and interactions during the mixed decomposition of Eucalyptus globulus leaves and 20 co-occurring plant species

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月27日

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  • Jianfeng Zhao,
  • Ling Li,
  • Siyu Zhu,
  • Ranfei Wang,
  • Ling Jin,
  • Sheng’en Liu,
  • Hang Wang

摘要

Aims

Plant litter often exists in mixed forms in natural ecosystems, where mixing effects can profoundly impact decomposition. Species rich in secondary metabolites may substantially alter decomposition when mixed with others, yet evidence under high secondary metabolite contexts remains scarce. This study aimed to investigate how Eucalyptus globulus, a species with high secondary metabolite levels, affects decomposition dynamics when mixed with litter from 20 co-occurring species.

Methods

We deployed 2214 litterbags combining Eucalyptus leaf litter and those from 20 co-occurring species. Litter mass loss was monitored periodically during 360 days to assess temporal variation in mixing effects. We further evaluated the roles of community-weighted means (CWM) and functional diversity (FD) of leaf traits in driving mass loss.

Results

Decomposition was strongly regulated by seasonality. During the early stage, mixing effects were predominantly additive, while non-additive effects dominated and intensified over time during the late stage. The decomposition of 18 species was inhibited when mixed with Eucalyptus litter (3.70–35.3% reduction compared to single-species decomposition), whereas all species facilitated Eucalyptus litter decomposition, revealing an "inhibition–facilitation" trade–off. In addition, mass loss was primarily driven by CWM of leaf traits, with FD playing a minor role.

Conclusions

Mixed litter decomposition showed a non-additive, net synergistic effect even with species high in secondary metabolites. Performance trade-offs among species weakened the influence of leaf trait functional diversity on mass loss.