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MWoods Thesis 2018.pdf (2.03 MB)
ETD Abstract Container
Abstract Header
Lonicera maackii
alters decay dynamics of coarse woody debris
Author Info
Woods, Michaela J.
Permalink:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1544793080360437
Abstract Details
Year and Degree
2018, Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, Biological Sciences.
Abstract
Since industrialization, anthropogenic carbon emissions have led to excess atmospheric carbon dioxide that may alter the stability of ecosystem processes. Microorganisms are essential in mitigating excess carbon and play a notable role in the breakdown of organic material. This process, decomposition, is essential in forested ecosystems where microorganisms can recycle nutrients and store carbon in soil organic matter or release it through respiration. Fungi participate in decomposition through the release of enzymes responsible for carrying out the chemical reactions that break down plant material. Species introductions have the potential to alter decomposition dynamics. In the Midwestern US, the invasive shrub species
Lonicera maackii
has overtaken many forests and is likely altering decay dynamics and the destiny of carbon within the region. Thus, it is essential to monitor the decay of woody debris under invasion pressures of
L. maackii
in order to monitor nutrient cycling in this region. I placed blocks of native
Quercus rubra
and economically important
Pinus radiata
in an
L. maackii
invaded forest for one year to determine environmental, enzymatic and fungal drivers of decomposition. Decomposition was faster for oak wood than pine wood, and decomposition rate was not directly altered by
L. maackii
. Instead,
L. maackii
increased the moisture of the decomposing wood, leading to higher amounts of hydrolytic enzyme activity which structured fungal communities within decaying wood. This insinuates that despite not altering decomposition rates directly,
L. maackii
is priming native woody debris for faster decomposition and therefore increasing the rate of nutrient turnover. Thus,
L. maackii
imposes shifts to fungal communities and their functionality and the soil environment. These changes could become especially important in later stage decay where there will likely be perceptible differences in decay rates as altered by
L. maackii
. The changes
L. maackii
imposes on decomposition will likely lead to faster carbon release from forested ecosystems and shorter retention times. Consequently, to ensure effective management strategies that mitigate excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, monitoring decomposition of woody material in invaded forests is imperative.
Committee
Megan RĂșa, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Don Cipollini, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Thomas Rooney, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Pages
70 p.
Subject Headings
Biology
;
Ecology
;
Environmental Science
;
Plant Sciences
;
Soil Sciences
Keywords
decomposition
;
Amur honeysuckle
;
enzyme
;
fungal community
;
nutrient cycling
Recommended Citations
Refworks
EndNote
RIS
Mendeley
Citations
Woods, M. J. (2018).
Lonicera maackii
alters decay dynamics of coarse woody debris
[Master's thesis, Wright State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1544793080360437
APA Style (7th edition)
Woods, Michaela.
Lonicera maackii
alters decay dynamics of coarse woody debris.
2018. Wright State University, Master's thesis.
OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center
, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1544793080360437.
MLA Style (8th edition)
Woods, Michaela. "
Lonicera maackii
alters decay dynamics of coarse woody debris." Master's thesis, Wright State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1544793080360437
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)
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Document number:
wright1544793080360437
Download Count:
202
Copyright Info
© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.