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AuthorAlsafran, Mohammed H.S.A.
AuthorSarneel, Judith
AuthorAlatalo, Juha M.
Available date2020-09-03T11:40:58Z
Publication Date2017
Publication NameArab World Geographer
ResourceScopus
URIhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042451976&partnerID=40&md5=5085dcbe0e6692a8e2294ea9994d2e4a
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/15954
AbstractDecomposition of plant litter is a key process for transfer of carbon and nutrients in ecosystems. Carbon contained in decaying biomass is released to the atmosphere as respired CO2, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. To our knowledge, there have been no studies on litter decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems in the Arabian peninsula. Here we used commercial teabags (green tea, rooibos tea) as standard substrates to study decomposition rates across contrasting ecosystems in Qatar. Teabags were buried under and beside Acacia tortilis trees, in depressions with abundant grass vegetation, in saltmarsh without and with vegetation, under Zygophyllum qatarense in drylands, in natural mangrove and in planted mangrove. There were significant site effects across ecosystems on decomposition rate (k), litter stabilisation factor (S), final weight of green tea and final weight of rooibos tea. Mangrove and depressions with grassland had the smallest amounts of remaining green and rooibos tea after the incubation period (69-82 days), while teabags buried under A. tortilis and in saltmarsh without vegetation had the largest amounts. Thus decomposition rates differ among ecosystems in the desert environment. Further multi-year and site studies are needed to identify factors that influence decomposition rates across sites in extreme environments.
SponsorThe authors wish to thank Marafi Abdelhameed Dafaalla and Mariana Tavelin-Sj�berg for their assistance during laboratory work. The study was partly funded by a grant from Qatar University to JMA (grant QUUG-CAS-DBES-15/16-5). JS conducted her work within the strategic theme Sustainability, sub-theme Water, Climate, and Ecosystems, at Utrecht University and was funded by the Swedish Research Council, Vetenskapsr�det.
Languageen
PublisherUniversity of Akron
SubjectArabian Peninsula
Carbon turnover
Climate change
Green tea
Litter bags
Plant litter decomposition rates
Rooibos tea
Teabag index
TitleVariation in plant litter decomposition rates across extreme dry environments in Qatar
TypeArticle Review
Pagination252-260
Issue Number3-Feb
Volume Number20
dc.accessType Abstract Only


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