Data from: Functionally diverse stands promote leaf litter decomposition irrespective of litter species’ resource acquisition strategy

Stand functional diversity (RaoQ) and stand functional composition in
terms of the functional traits of the component species (CWM trait) are
critical for ecosystem processes and functioning, such as litter
decomposition and associated nutrient cycling. Litter decomposition rates
could differ among stands varying in functional diversity and composition
because of interspecific variation of resource economic traits in litter
quality, as well as differences in microenvironmental conditions. However,
whether and how functionally diverse stands with different
microenvironmental conditions change the litter decomposition rates among
functionally contrasting species is poorly understood. We tested
our hypotheses through a litter decomposition study in a tree diversity
experiment in subtropical China. We quantified the leaf litter mass losses
for acquisitive, intermediate, and conservative species and measured
microclimates across 30 stands that represent a range of tree functional
diversity and composition over five decomposition periods over 394 days.
We found that increasing stand species richness and stand
functional diversity were significantly associated with higher leaf litter
decomposition rates across all three functionally contrasting litter
species. This positive effect did not change with the litter
species’ resource acquisition strategies. We also found
that increasing stand functional composition along an axis from
resource conservative to acquisitive had rather similar humpback relations
with leaf litter decomposition rates for all three litter
species. Our study provides mechanistic insights into the
potential direct and indirect roles of functional trait diversity and
composition in driving litter decomposition, and these insights are
relevant to many ecosystem types globally.