• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.291-295
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• 2008

Weight loss and nutrient dynamics of oak and pine leaf litter during decomposition were investigated from December 2005 through June 2008 at Mt. Worak National Park as a part of National Long-Term Ecological Research Program in Korea. The decay constant (k) of oak and pine leaf litter were 0.314 and 0.217, respectively. After 30 months decomposition, remaining weight of oak and pine leaf litter was 45.5% and 58.1%, respectively. Initial C/N ratio of oak and pine leaf litter was 53.4 and 153.0, respectively. Carbon % of initial oak and pine leaf litter was similar with each other; however, nitrogen content of initial oak leaf litter (0.85%) was greater than that of initial pine leaf litter (0.33%). N and P concentration in both decomposing leaf litter increased significantly during decomposition. There was no net N and P mineralization period in decomposing pine leaf litter. K, Ca and Mg concentration in both decomposing leaf litter showed different pattern with those of N and P. After 30 months decomposition, remaining nutrients in oak and pine leaf litter were 97.7 and 216.2% for N, 123.2 and 216.5% for P, 39.3 and 44.8% for K, 47.9 and 40.6% for Ca, 30.7 and 51.2% for Mg, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.203-208
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• 2003

Losses in the dry weight of leaf litter from six tree species were studied during 16 months on the forest floor in temperate deciduous forest of Mt. Cheonma in the vicinity of Seoul in Korea by using litter bag method. The decomposition rate of each leaf litter varies with each species. After 16 months elapsed, the leaf litter of Acer pseudo-sieboidianum showed the highest decomposition constant (0.82) as Olson´s decomposition constant, while that of Pinus densiflora showed the lowest decomposition constant (0.33). The decomposition constant of Quercus mongolica, Q. serrata, Betula ermani and Carpinus laxiflora showed 0.43, 0.37, 0.66 and 0.75, respectively. The decomposition constant of leaf litter was considered with temperature and precipitation which accumulated daily during each term of litter bag collection. The decomposition constant of leaf litter showed closely positive correlation with daily accumulative temperature and precipitation. The relationships between decomposition constant and the daily accumulative temperature and precipitation at each period of litter bag collection were analyzed through multi-regression analysis. The correlation coefficients as a result of multi-regression analysis in Q. mongolica, Q. serrata, P densiflora, B. ermani, C. laxiflorais and A. pseudo-sieboldianum were 0.83, 0.81, 0.69, 0.77, 0.77 and 0.62, respectively. The precipitation showed higher effect, about 10 times, on the leaf litter decomposition than the daily accumulative temperature.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.313-319
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• 2003

Dry weight loss and nutrient release from leaf litter for six tree species were studied using litter bag methods. The litter bags were incubated for f6 months on the forest floor in temperate deciduous forest in Mt. Cheonma, located at the middle part of Korean Peninsula. The changes in nutrient content and the rate of dry weight loss in leaf litter varied with litter types. The litter of Pinus densiflora showed the lowest rate of mass loss (k=0.33), nitrogen concentration (0.89%) and ash concentration (2.50%), while showed the highest C/N ratio (63.40). On the other hand, the litter of Acer pseudo-sieboldianum showed the fastest rate of mass loss (k=0.82), the highest nitrogen concentration (1.11%), and the lowest C/N ratio (49.40). During the decomposition, nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium in the leaf litters showed relatively slow decreasing pattern compared to other elements (carbon, potassium, magnesium, manganese and sodium), but potassium and sodium decreased at early stage of the decomposition for all leaf litters. Differences in annual decomposition rates of litter among species were consistent with the particular chemical characteristics of their leaf litters. The initial concentration of nitrogen was positively correlated with litter decomposition rate for six species, while litter decomposition rate of six species was negatively correlated with C:N ratio of initial leaf litters.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.38-48
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• 2013

Decomposition of plant material is an important component in the study of forest ecosystem because of its critical role in nutrient cycling. Different tree species has different nutrient release patterns, which are related to leaf litter quantitative traits and seasonal environmental factors. The quantitative traits of leaf litter are important predictors of decomposition and decomposition rates increase with greater nutrient availability in the forest ecosystems. At the ecosystem level, litter quantitative traits are most often related to the physical and chemical characteristics of the litter, for example, leaf toughness and leaf mass per unit area, and lignin content tannin and total phenolics. Thus, the analysis of litter quantitative traits and decomposition are highly important for the understanding of nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. By studying the role of litter quantitative traits on decomposition and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems will provide a valuable insight to how quantitative traits influence ecosystem nutrient dynamics. Such knowledge will contribute to future forest management and conservation practices.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.563-573
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• 1996

Macroinvertebrate contribution to the leaf litter breakdown of Carpinus cordata was estimated at headwater streams at Mt. Jumbong (38°03'N, 128°25'E) during spring and winter spring by using two types of litter bag. Coarse-mesh bags with 10 g of leaf letter were placed in a 1st-order stream in April (the spring experiment) and December 1995 (the winter-spring experiment). Fine-mesh bags with 5 g of leaf letter were placed in a nearby 3ed-order steam. The breakdown of Carpinus in coarse-mesh bags was rapid, and, in terms of season, leaf litter processed rapidly during spring. daily mass loss rates of leaf litter (-k±1 SE) were highest for coarse-mesh bags in the spring experiment (-0.0429±0.0048), followed by coarse-mesh bags in the winter-spring (-0.0146±0.0014), fine-mesh bags in the spring (-0.0078±0.0004), fine-mesh bags in the winter-spring experiment (-0.0054±0.0005). Macroinvertebrate contribution to the litter breakdown was estimated by the difference of % leaf letter remaining between coarse -mesh bage and fine-mesh bags. Although shredders were more abundant during the winter-spring, their contribution was greater during the spring (50%) than the winter-spring (22∼33%). This result appeared to be due to the change in the chemical composition of leaf letter during processing, and to the seasonal growth patterns of major shredder taxa.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2021

With continuous decline of Philippine forest cover, sustainable forest management and restoration are essential to restore destroyed forest ecosystems. Unfortunately, of ten most planted trees in reforestation projects in the Philippines, eight are exotic species, with large leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) being the most dominant. In this study, effect of Swietenia macrophylla in reforestation projects on native tree species was evaluated. Effects of S. macrophylla leaf litter, frequency, and canopy closure on the growth of the Philippine native species Pterocarpus indicus were investigated. Results showed that S. macrophylla leaf litter significantly inhibited the growth of P. indicus seedlings based on root collar-to-shoot height. The standardized growth rate of seedlings in plots without S. macrophylla leaf litter was significantly higher than the growth rate of seedlings in plots with leaf litter. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the standardized growth rate of seedlings between plots without leaf litter and a control plot. On the contrary, S. macrophylla tree frequency and canopy closure showed no significant effect. These results attest to the negative effect of widely planted S. macrophylla to a valuable Philippine native tree P. indicus. With accumulating scientific evidence about negative effects of S. macrophylla on native trees, discontinued use in tree planting and reforestation efforts with active management of restoration sites previously planted with large leaf mahogany are needed.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.289-294
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• 2003

To quantify nutrient loading from emergent macrophytes through leaching in the littoral zones of Paldang Reservoir, we conducted incubation experiments using leaf litter of the emergent macrophyte, Zizaniz latifolia. To separate the leaching process from microbial decay, we used $HgCl_2$ to suppress microbial activity during the experiment. We measured electric conductivity, absorbance at 280nm, total nitrogen and dissolved inorganic nitrogen, total phosphorus and soluble reactive phosphorus, Na, K, Mg and Ca amounts in leaf litter and in water. In addition, we examined the effects of water temperature and ion concentrations of ambient water on the leaching process. A total of 6% of the initial ash-free dry mass of leaf litter was lost due to leaching during incubation (four days). Electric conductivity and A280 continued to increase and saturate during the incubation. To compare reaching rates of different nutrients, we fitted leaching dynamics with a hyperbolic saturation function [Y=AㆍX/(B+X)]. From these fittings, we found that ratios of leaching amounts to nutrient concentration in the litter were in the order of K > Na > Mg > P > Ca > N. Leaching from leaf litter of Z. latifolia was dependent on water temperature while it was not related with ion concentrations in the ambient water. Our results suggest that the leaching process of nutrients, especially phosphorus, from aquatic macrophytes provides considerable contribution to the eutrophication of the Paldang Reservoir ecosystem.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.143-147
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• 1999

Annual production and redistribution of leaf litter were compared among three distinct understory patches in a temperate hardwood forest dominated by Quercus mongolica, Kalopanax pictus, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, and Carpinus cordata. Two patches were located on a southwest-facing slope: one with an understory dominated by herbaceous plants (Patch S), and the other covered with evergreen dwarf bamboo, Sasa borealis (patch SS). The third patch was on the opposite slope with an understory dominated by herbaceous plants (Patch N). Annual leaf litterfall was averaged 330 g m$^{-2} yr$^{-2}$ in the three patches from 1994 to 1998. From mid-September 1996 to mid-September 1997, net transport of leaf litter over patch bound-aries was 1,824g m$^{-1}$ from Patch S to SS, 1,465g m$^{-1}$ from Patch S to N, and 886 g m$^{-1}$ from Patch SS to N. The amounts moving downslope out of Patch S, SS, and N were 2,548, 471, and 588g m$^{-1}$, respectively. When a mass balance approach was employed for the data of leaf litter transport, the results were relatively consistent with 216, 631, and 724g m$^{-2}$ of leaf litter stores in Patch S, SS, and N, respectively, in April 1997. This study suggests that leaf litter redistribution is largely regulated by aspect and understory type and exerts a significant effect on carbon processes in the forest ecosystem.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.223-233
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• 2013

Acid deposition is one of the most serious environmental problems in ecosystems. The present study surveyed the effects of simulated acid rain on leaf litter mass loss and microbial community in the decomposing leaf litter of Sorbus anifolia in a microcosm at $23^{\circ}C$ and 40% humidity. Microbial biomass was measured by substrate-induced respiration (SIR) and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), and the microbial community structures were determined by composition of PLFAs at each interval of decomposition in litter sample and at each pH treatment. The microbial biomass showed peaks at mid-stage of decomposition, decreasing at the late stage. The leaf litter mass loss of S. anifolia decreased with decreasing pH during early and mid-decomposition stages; however the mass loss becomes similar between pH treatments at late-decomposition stage. The acidification remarkably lowers the microbial biomass of bacteria and fungi; however, microbial diversity was unchanged between pH treatments at each stage of litter decomposition. With changes of decomposition stage and pH treatment there were considerable differences in replacement and compensation of microbial species. Fungi/bacteria ratio was considerably changed by pH treatment. The PLFA profile showed significantly larger fungi/bacteria ratio at pH 5 than pH 3 at the early stage of decomposition, and the difference becomes smaller at the later decomposition stage. At low pH, pH 3 and pH 4, the fungi/bacteria ratios were stable according to the litter decomposition stages. Simulated acid rain caused decreases of 10Me17:0, 16:1${\omega}$7c, 18:1${\omega}$7, 15:0, but increase of 24:0. In addition, litter mass loss showed significant positive correlation with microbial biomass measured by SIR and PLFA on the decomposing leaf litter.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.74-81
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• 2012

Decay rate and nutrient dynamics during leaf litter decomposition of deciduous Quercus acutissima and evergreen Quercus mysinaefolia were studied for 24 months from December 2008 to December 2010 in Gongju, Chungnam Province, Korea. Percent remaining weight of Q. acutissima and Q. mysinaefolia leaf litter after 24 months elapsed was $46.3{\pm}5.4%$ and $37.8{\pm}2.5%$, respectively. Decomposition of evergreen Q. mysinaefolia leaf litter was significantly faster than that of deciduous Quercus acutissima leaf litter. Decay constant(k) of Q. acutissima and Q. mysinaefolia leaf litter after 24 months elapsed was 0.38 and 0.49, respectively. Initial C/N and C/P ratio of Q. mysinaefolia leaf litter was significantly lower than those of Q. acutissima leaf litter. Initial C/N and C/P ratio of Q. acutissima leaf litter was 46.8 and 270.9, respectively. After 24 months elapsed, C/N and C/P ratio of decomposing Q. acutissima leaf litter decreased to 22.5 and 104.2, respectively. Initial C/N and C/P ratio of Q. mysinaefolia leaf litter was 22.4 and 41.7, respectively. After 24 months elapsed, C/N and C/P ratio of decomposing Q. mysinaefolia leaf litter decreased to 16.7 and 89.7, respectively. Initial concentration of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in leaf litter was 8.31, 0.44, 4.18, 9.38, 1.37 mg/g in Q. acutissima, and 19.88, 2.73, 7.06, 8.24, 2.61 mg/g in Q. mysinaefolia, respectively. Initial concentration of N and P in Q. mysinaefolia leaf litter was significantly higher than those in Q. acutissima. After 24 month elapsed, remaining N, P, K, Ca and Mg were 100.91, 114.75, 32.99, 50.63, 15.51% in Q. acutissima, and 43.22, 11.35, 12.98, 82.22, 44.23% in Q. mysinaefolia, respectively. N and P in decomposing leaf litter was immobilized in Q. acutissima, and mineralized in Q. mysinaefolia.