Coarse woody debris decomposition in forest ecosystems: multifactorial drivers and impacts on ecological functions

Résumé fourni par la source

Coarse woody debris (CWD) constitutes a vital structural and functional component of forest ecosystems, serving as a critical interface between vegetation and soil carbon reservoirs. CWD plays an integral and distinctive role in the global forest carbon cycle and in the conservation of biodiversity. In recent years, the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme climatic events have accelerated tree mortality, thereby altering the inputs and spatial distribution patterns of CWD. These alterations subsequently impact the functionality and stability of forest ecosystems, attracting significant research attention. In this review, we systematically elucidate the multifactorial drivers of CWD decomposition and its effects on both aboveground and belowground ecological functions. Specifically, CWD decomposition is regulated by three interdependent factors: (1) substrate quality, which determines the availability of nutrients and structural compounds, thereby exerting bottom-up control on decomposer community composition and activity at local scales; (2) decomposer community, whose colonization is highly contingent on the specific attributes of the substrate; and (3) environmental conditions, which predominantly influence decomposition processes at regional and larger spatial scales. Aboveground, the decomposition of CWD significantly enhances plant productivity and biodiversity through microbial-mediated nutrient release and resource differentiation driven by successional stages. Belowground, CWD decomposition restructures the soil microbial community through mechanisms such as substrate metabolic niche differentiation, stoichiometric adjustments, and cross-kingdom feedback. These processes facilitate the sequestration of soil organic carbon and support nitrogen cycling processes, including mineralization and nitrification. Finally, we outline future research directions and priorities aimed at providing scientific support for achieving forest carbon neutrality and maintaining multifunctional ecosystems.

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