Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2026

Publisher

Royal Society Publishing

Source Publication

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Source ISSN

0962-8452

Abstract

Lianas are increasing in many forests and show higher stem turnover rates and different chemical profiles compared with trees. However, liana deadwood decomposition dynamics have been overlooked. We redress this omission and hypothesize that liana wood decomposes faster than tree wood due to its larger vessels and higher nutrient content than trees, resulting in greater activity of both microbial and invertebrate decomposers. We tested this hypothesis in a common-garden decomposition experiment with deadwood of two size classes (2.5 and 4 cm diameter) belonging to 12 liana and 12 tree species in tropical China. Liana wood decomposed 28.6% faster than tree wood in the presence of invertebrates for large diameter but showed no significant difference for the smaller diameter. Initial contents of nitrogen, calcium, potassium and hemicellulose were higher for liana than tree wood. Likewise, liana bark had higher potassium and lignin contents than tree bark. The microbial contribution to decomposition based on mesh size exclusion of invertebrates, across lianas and trees, was similar. The presence of invertebrates more than doubled the decomposition rates for both lianas and trees. Overall, lianas decompose faster than trees, at least for larger diameter deadwood, and therefore may promote forest carbon and nutrient turnover rates.

Comments

Accepted version. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Vol. 293, No. 2068 (2026). DOI. © 2026 Royal Society Publishing. Used with permission.

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