International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.5, 206-216 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 2 06 Review Open Access Decomposition Processes and Nutrient Cycling in Leaf Litter Ecosystems Jiong Fu Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Crop Molecular Breeding, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding email: jiong.fu@hitar.org International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.5 doi: 10.5376/ijmec.2025.15.0021 Received: 16 Jul., 2025 Accepted: 25 Aug., 2025 Published: 08 Sep., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Fu, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Fu J., 2025, Decomposition processes and nutrient cycling in leaf litter ecosystems, International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 15(5): 206-216 (doi: 10.5376/ijmec.2025.15.0021) Abstract This study reviews the ecological significance, driving mechanisms, phased dynamics and role in nutrient cycling of the deciduous decomposition process, and focuses on evaluating the responses of decomposition and nutrient cycling in the context of global change. Research has found that the decomposition of fallen leaves supports vegetation regeneration and primary productivity by releasing nutrients, enhances soil fertility and structural stability, and strengthens the ecosystem's resistance to disturbances. The decomposition process is driven by a variety of biological and abiotic factors: the diversity and functional division of decomposers (microorganisms and soil invertebrates), environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity in the habitat, and the chemical quality of fallen leaves themselves jointly determine the decomposition rate. Meanwhile, the decomposition of fallen leaves has a distinct phased dynamic pattern. The rapid loss of soluble substances in the early stage, the degradation of structural substances in the middle stage, and the formation of stable residues (humus) in the later stage occur in stages. This study emphasizes that the decomposition of fallen leaves is an important process for maintaining ecosystem functions, with the aim of better predicting and managing the nutrient cycling of ecosystems under climate change and human interference. Keywords Decomposition of fallen leaves; Nutrient cycling; Diversity of decomposers; Decomposition rate; Global changes 1 Introduction Fallen leaves (the layer of dead branches and leaves), as one of the main forms for the return of organic matter and nutrients to the soil in terrestrial ecosystems, play a key role in maintaining the material cycle and energy flow of the ecosystem (Chen et al., 2021). Vegetation introduces a large amount of carbon and nutrients into the soil through fallen leaves every year. It is estimated that a considerable portion (over 50%) of the fixed primary productivity of forests eventually returns to the soil in the form of fallen leaves, thus becoming an important source of soil fertility and the dominant pathway for nutrient cycling (Liu et al., 2022a; Yuan et al., 2024). The decomposition process of fallen leaves is the basis of soil formation and nutrient redistribution. Its rate and products directly affect the accumulation of soil organic matter, nutrient availability, and the carbon sink/source function of the ecosystem (Friedlingstein et al., 2020). Meanwhile, the energy and nutrients released by the decomposition of fallen leaves provide food sources for soil biological communities, maintaining the normal operation of the soil food web and microbial functions. This process not only supports the continuous growth of vegetation and the primary productivity of the ecosystem, but also shapes the stability and anti-interference ability of the ecosystem by influencing soil structure, fertility and moisture conditions (Prescott and Vesterdal, 2021). However, the process of leaf decomposition is influenced by multiple factors: including the diversity and functional roles of decomposers such as microorganisms and soil invertebrates, environmental conditions such as temperature and moisture, as well as the chemical composition of the leaves themselves (Schwieger et al., 2025). In recent years, with the intensification of processes such as global climate change, increased nitrogen deposition, loss of biodiversity and invasion of alien species, significant changes may occur in the deciduous decomposition and nutrient cycling processes (Hu et al., 2022; Wu et al., 2025). In view of this, it is necessary to systematically sort out the ecological significance and mechanism of leaf decomposition, and evaluate the response mechanism of the decomposition process and nutrient cycling under the background of global change.
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