@article{fdi:010060466,
  title = {{F}orest ageing : an unexpected driver of beech leaf litter quality variability in {E}uropean forests with strong consequences on soil processes},
  author = {{T}rap, {J}ean and {H}attenschwiler, {S}. and {G}attin, {I}. and {A}ubert, {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he role of forest age as a potential driver of intraspecific variation in leaf litter quality, that is a key plant trait determining ecosystem functioning, has largely been neglected. {U}sing a set of fully replicated pure beech ({F}agus sylvatica) forest stands differing in age (15, 65, 95 and 130 years), we quantified the forest stand age related variability of twelve leaf litter quality traits. {L}itter {M}g, {N} and {K} showed significantly higher concentrations in litter from 15-yrs-old stands and decreased with increasing stand age. {M}n was the only nutrient analyzed that was highest in the oldest stands. {H}emicellulose and cellulose were lowest, and lignin and lignin/{N} ratio were highest in stands of intermediate age. {T}he amount of {N} within the litter lignin fraction was highest in the 95-yrs-old stands (51% of total {N}) and lowest in the oldest stands (34% of total {N}). {T}he amount of {N} associated within the hemicellulose fraction (<3%) showed the opposite pattern along the forest stand age gradient compared to lignin. {U}sing {P}artial {L}east {S}quares regressions, we showed that litter {N}, {C}/{N}, lignin/{N}, {K}, {M}n and {M}g were the most important predictors of litter decomposition along the chronosequence. {I}n contrast the proportions of {C} fractions and the amount of {N} within these {C} fractions were the most significant variables explaining the variation in final litter {N} content after one year of decomposition. {N} mineralization in ground litter was highly related to the proportion of total {N} within lignin and humus {N} mineralization was mostly explained by {M}n and the lignin/{N} ratio. {W}e showed that forest age is an important driver of litter quality variation and contributed considerably to the overall variation of {F}. sylvatica leaf litter quality traits observed from a reviewed data of published studies conducted at the continental scale. {F}urthermore, intraspecific litter quality variation greatly impacted belowground processes. {A}ccounting for forest age related litter trait variation, and for the crucial role of the distribution of {N} within different litter {C} fractions, may improve the mechanistic understanding of ecosystem functioning.},
  keywords = {{L}eaf litter quality ; {F}orest age-related variability ; {L}itter decomposition ; {S}oil {N} cycling ; {C}hronosequence ; {E}uropean {F}agus sylvatica ; {EUROPE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{F}orest {E}cology and {M}anagement},
  volume = {302},
  numero = {},
  pages = {338--345},
  ISSN = {0378-1127},
  year = {2013},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.foreco.2013.03.011},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010060466},
}