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Ecosystem function associated with soil organic carbon declines with tropical dry forest degradation
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  • Laura L. de Sosa,
  • Inmaculada Carmona,
  • M. Panettieri,
  • Daniel M. Griffith,
  • Carlos I. Espinosa,
  • Andrea Jara-Guerrero,
  • Cesar Plaza,
  • Engracia Madejón
Laura L. de Sosa
Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia de Sevilla

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Inmaculada Carmona
Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja
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M. Panettieri
Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias
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Daniel M. Griffith
Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja
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Carlos I. Espinosa
Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja
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Andrea Jara-Guerrero
Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja
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Cesar Plaza
Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias
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Engracia Madejón
Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia de Sevilla
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Abstract

Forest degradation is increasingly recognized as a major threat to global biodiversity and ecosystems’ capacity to provide ecosystem services. This study examined the impacts of forest degradation on soil quality and function in a seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) of Ecuador. We compared soil physical-chemical properties, enzymatic activity, particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) along a gradient of SDTF degradation in the dry and rainy season. Our findings showed a consistent and steady reduction in soil quality (total C and N) and function (dehydrogenase and β-glucosidase activity) that paralleled the loss of vegetative structure and diversity along the degradation gradient. Soil physical-chemical properties were less variable and enzymatic activity was generally higher in the dry season compared to the rainy season. We also showed for the first time a significant and uniform decrease in POC and MAOC with ecosystem degradation in a SDTF. The relative proportion of these two components was constant along the gradient except for the most degraded state (arid land), where POC was higher in proportion to MAOC, suggesting that a functional tipping point may be crossed with extreme forest degradation. These findings address an important knowledge gap for SDTFs by showing a consistent loss of soil quality and functionality with degradation and suggest that extreme degradation can result in an alternate state with compromised resilience.
06 Oct 2023Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
06 Oct 2023Submission Checks Completed
06 Oct 2023Assigned to Editor
14 Oct 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
17 Oct 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Nov 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major