Linking Nitrogen Availability, Litter Chemistry, and Decomposer Organisms to Explain the Inconsistent Effect of Nitrogen Addition on Litter Decomposition

由于人类活动，对全球氮循环的投入显著增加，我们对这种氮素浓缩将如何影响陆地生物群落和生态系统功能的认识存在许多不确定性。其中包括氮的增加对分解生物和凋落物分解过程的影响。这项研究的总体目标是研究植物凋落物化学成分(木质素和氮含量)和外部氮素有效性如何相互作用，影响凋落物微生物群落的组成和/或活动。由于人类活动正在显著改变营养循环，因此需要进行基础的生态学研究，以确定人为干扰是否正在削弱生态系统可持续运行的能力。这项研究将有助于我们了解分解微生物对氮素添加的反应，并增强我们预测氮素增加如何影响凋落物分解过程的能力。

Inputs to the global nitrogen cycle have increased significantly due to human activities and there are many uncertainties in our knowledge of how this nitrogen enrichment will impact terrestrial biotic communities and ecosystem function. Among these is the impact that nitrogen enrichment is having on decomposer organisms and the litter decomposition process. The overall objective of this research is to examine how plant litter chemistry (lignin and nitrogen content) and external nitrogen availability interact to impact the composition and/or activity of the litter microbial community. Because nutrient cycles are being significantly altered by human activities, basic ecological research is needed to determine whether anthropogenic disturbance is impairing the ability of ecosystems to function sustainably. This research will contribute to our understanding of how decomposer microorganisms respond to nitrogen additions and to enhance our ability to predict how nitrogen enrichment impacts the litter decomposition process.