Long-term Intersite Decomposition Experiment (LIDET)

LIDET is the LTER Longterm Intersite Decomposition Experiment Team. It is a leaf, wood, and root decomposition study carried out at 28 LTER and other sites including LUQ. The duration of the study is designed to be approximately 10 yrs at temperate zone sites and approximately 3 yrs at tropical zone sites because of higher decomposition rates there. The same decomposing materials, litter bags, and study design are used at all sites to facilitate intersite comparisons. Not all species were used at all sites. Six leaf litter species were used extensively at all sites that cover a range of leaf quality to permit a comparison of effects of litter quality and climate on decomposition. The others were present in the study as "wild cards", with at least one species contributed by each site. Three species of roots, and one species of wood were used. Support for this work was provided by grants BSR-8811902, DEB-9411973, DEB-9705814 , DEB-0080538, DEB-0218039 , DEB-0620910 , DEB-1239764, DEB-1546686, and DEB-1831952 from the National Science Foundation to the University of Puerto Rico as part of the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program. Additional support provided by the University of Puerto Rico and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service.

LIDET即长期生态研究网络（Long Term Ecological Research, LTER）框架下的长期跨样地分解实验团队（Longterm Intersite Decomposition Experiment Team）。该团队针对叶片、木质部及根系凋落物的分解过程开展长期研究，实验覆盖28个LTER站点及包括卢基约长期生态研究站点（LUQ）在内的其他合作站点。考虑到热带地区有机质分解速率更高，实验周期在温带站点设计为约10年，热带站点则约为3年。所有站点均采用统一的分解基质、凋落物袋（litter bags）及实验设计，以保障跨样地对比研究的科学性与可比性。并非所有供试物种均在所有站点得到应用：其中6种叶片凋落物物种在所有站点均广泛使用，这些物种覆盖了不同的叶片品质梯度，可用于对比凋落物品质与气候对分解过程的影响。其余物种则以"特约参试物种（wild cards）"的形式纳入实验，每个站点至少贡献1个本地物种。本次实验共选用3种根系凋落物及1种木质部凋落物。本研究得到美国国家科学基金会（National Science Foundation）的多项拨款支持，资助编号包括BSR-8811902、DEB-9411973、DEB-9705814、DEB-0080538、DEB-0218039、DEB-0620910、DEB-1239764、DEB-1546686及DEB-1831952，相关资助款项由波多黎各大学获得，作为卢基约长期生态研究项目的一部分。此外，本研究还得到波多黎各大学及美国农业部林务局（USDA Forest Service）国际热带森林研究所的额外资助。