Variability in terrestrial litter decomposition can be explained by nutrient allocation strategies among soil decomposer communities

1. Leaf litter decomposition is a key process for nutrient cycling with broad ecosystem-level consequences. However, we still cannot explain an important amount of the observed variability in decomposition rates. Therefore, a mechanistic model of how litter quality impacts the metabolic capacity of microbial decomposers to degrade litter at a given rate could improve our understanding of litter decomposition. 2. Elemental imbalances between leaf litter and microbial decomposers can lead to nutrient-limited decomposition. Microbial decomposers can deal with elemental imbalances via three main physiological mechanisms; by adjusting their carbon use efficiency (i.e., the proportion of assimilated carbon that is not respired), accumulating nitrogen, or adjusting extracellular enzyme allocation between carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Therefore, decomposer communities that adjust to elemental imbalances using these strategies should decompose litter faster than those unable to adjust. 3. In this..., ,

1. 凋落物分解（Leaf litter decomposition）是养分循环的核心过程，对生态系统全局具有广泛影响。然而，当前仍无法解释观测到的分解速率变异中的大量未解部分。因此，构建可阐释凋落物质量如何调控微生物分解者（microbial decomposers）的代谢能力、进而以特定速率降解凋落物的机理模型，将有助于深化我们对凋落物分解过程的认知。
2. 凋落物与微生物分解者之间的元素化学计量失衡，会引发养分限制型分解过程。微生物分解者可通过三种主要生理策略应对此类失衡：调整碳利用效率（carbon use efficiency，即同化碳中未被呼吸消耗的比例）、积累氮素，或调控碳（C）与氮（N）间的胞外酶分配比例。因此，具备上述适应策略的分解者群落，其凋落物分解速率应快于无法适应此类失衡的群落。
3. 在本研究中……