DOI: 10.5061/dryad.p6s0407
title: Data from: Litter type and termites regulate root decomposition across contrasting savanna land-uses

description: Decomposition is a vital ecosystem process, increasingly modified by human
 activity. Theoretical frameworks and empirical studies that aim to
 understand the interplay between human land-use, macro-fauna and
 decomposition processes have primarily focused on leaf and wood litter.
 For a whole-plant understanding of how land-use and macro-fauna influence
 decomposition, investigating root litter is required. Using litterbags, we
 quantified rates of root decomposition across contrasting tropical savanna
 land-uses, namely wildlife and fire-dominated protected areas and
 livestock pastureland without fire. By scanning litterbags for termite
 intrusion, we differentiated termite and microbial driven decomposition.
 Root litter was buried underneath different tree canopies (leguminous and
 non-leguminous trees) and outside canopies to account for savanna
 landscape effects. Additionally, we established a termite cafeteria-style
 experiment and common garden to explore termite selectivity of root litter
 and root trait relationships, respectively. After one year, we found no
 significant differences in root litter mass loss between wildlife
 dominated areas and pastureland. Instead, we found consistent species
 differences in root litter mass loss across land-uses and additive and
 non-additive effects of termites on root decomposition across plant
 species. Termite selectivity for root litter species occurred for both
 root and leaf litter buried near termite mounds, but was not explained by
 root traits measured in the common garden. Termite foraging was greater
 under leguminous tree canopies than other canopies; however, this did not
 influence rates of root decomposition. Our study suggests that land-use
 has a weak direct effect on belowground processes in savannas. Instead,
 changes in herbaceous species composition and termite foraging have
 stronger impacts on belowground decomposition. Moreover, termites were not
 generalist decomposers of root litter, but their impact varies depending
 on plant species identity and likely associated root traits. This root
 litter selectivity by termites is likely to be an important contributor to
 spatial heterogeneity in savanna nutrient cycling.
description: Root litter mass loss in
 SerengetiRoot litter mass loss
 (undecomposed weights, ash contents and decomposed weights) for litter
 used in an experiment to determine the impact of land-use on belowground
 nutrient cycling inside and outside the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
 from 2016 to 2017 as part of the AfricanBioServices project. Litter data
 includes the main land-use experiment and a supporting common garden
 experiment where several species of litter were buried in central
 Serengeti. The datafile also includes supporting data on tree allometrics
 (i.e. height, diameter at breast height) and soil properties (texture and
 organic carbon content).Root.decomp.Serengeti.landuse.common.garden.txtTermite cafeteria litter experiment in SerengetiRoot, leaf and stem mass loss (undecomposed weights, ashed contents and decomposed weights) for litter buried near termite mounds used to determine termite (non) preference for different litter types in Seronera, central Serengeti National Park, Tanzania during the wet season 2017 as part of the AfricanBioServices project.Termite.cafeteria.root.decomposition.txt