Detritivores accelerate litter mixture decomposition effect via greater consumption of high quality litter
To explore the mixing effect of litter decomposition and the role of detritivores,we conducted a laboratory-based microcosm experiment to study the influence of detritivores on litter mixture decomposition by using two litter species with contrasting quality,i.e.,Cinnamomum camphora and Michelia × alba,and a detritivore(isopoda).After 100 days incubation,the decomposition rate of litter mixture was 52.1％,slower than that of M.alba(62.6％)and significantly faster than that of C.camphora(33.6％).The addition of isopods significantly increased litter decomposition rate,with C.camphora,M.alba,and the mixture increased by 14.4％,20.1％and 22.1％,respectively.There was no significant mixing effect without isopods.Adding isopods significantly promoted the mixing effect of litter decomposition,with a value of the litter mixture decomposition effect of 8.6％.The detritivores increased litter decomposition rate and mixing effect through increasing consumption of litter with better quality.
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