Annual dynamics of plant litter calcium and magnesium stocks in a subtropical forest headwater stream

WeiKang Chen, Ling Xiong, Qiqian Wu, Petr Heděnec, Yan Peng, Zemin Zhao, Chaoxiang Yuan, Ji Yuan, Xiangyin Ni, Fuzhong Wu and Kai Yue
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WeiKang Chen: College of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Carbon Zhonghe Future Technology Institute, Fuzhou, P.R. China
Ling Xiong: College of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Carbon Zhonghe Future Technology Institute, Fuzhou, P.R. China
Qiqian Wu: State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an, P.R. China
Petr Heděnec: Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, University Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
Yan Peng: Fujian Sanming Forest Ecosystem National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, Sanming, P.R. China
Zemin Zhao: College of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Carbon Zhonghe Future Technology Institute, Fuzhou, P.R. China
Chaoxiang Yuan: College of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Carbon Zhonghe Future Technology Institute, Fuzhou, P.R. China
Ji Yuan: College of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Carbon Zhonghe Future Technology Institute, Fuzhou, P.R. China
Xiangyin Ni: Fujian Sanming Forest Ecosystem National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, Sanming, P.R. China
Fuzhong Wu: Fujian Sanming Forest Ecosystem National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, Sanming, P.R. China
Kai Yue: Fujian Sanming Forest Ecosystem National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, Sanming, P.R. China

Soil and Water Research, vol. preprint

Abstract: Forest headwater streams serve as critical interfaces between terrestrial forests and downstream aquatic ecosystems, playing essential roles in the storage and movement of carbon (C) and nutrients. However, despite their importance, our understanding of the dynamics of plant litter calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) stocks within these streams remains limited. In this study, we conducted a quantitative analysis of the spatiotemporal dynamics of plant litter Ca and Mg concentrations and stocks in a subtropical forest headwater stream from March 2021 to February 2022. We found that: (1) the average concentrations of litter Ca and Mg were 9.9 and 0.7 mg/g, respectively, with mean stocks of 8 792.3 and 620.8 mg/m2, respectively; (2) significant variations in litter Ca and Mg concentrations were observed among non-woody debris (13.1 and 0.9 mg/g), fine woody debris (9.0 and 0.5 mg/g), and coarse woody debris (6.1 and 0.4 mg/g), though plant litter type did not significantly affect the stocks of Ca and Mg; and (3) the stocks of Ca and Mg were positively correlated with factors such as rainfall amount, rainfall frequency, water temperature, flow velocity, water depth, electrical conductivity, and discharge, while negatively correlated with stream water alkalinity and dissolved oxygen levels. These findings highlight the critical role of plant litter in headwater streams as a component of forest nutrient stocks and provide empirical support for incorporating headwater streams into the assessment of nutrient stocks and fluxes in forest ecosystems.

Keywords: environmental drivers; litter decomposition; nutrient stoichiometry; riparian nutrient input; seasonal nutrient dynamics; stream ecosystem function (search for similar items in EconPapers)
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DOI: 10.17221/7/2025-SWR

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