Replication data for UV radiation and reduced rainfall: Legacy effects on litter and first-year decomposition in two Mediterranean evergreen shrubs
Year: 2026
Type: dataset
Abstract: This dataset contains the results of a field experiment assessing the combined effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation (UV-A and UV-B) and reduced rainfall on litter decomposition in two Mediterranean evergreen shrub species: Arbutus unedo and Phillyrea angustifolia. The aim is to evaluate how these climate change-related factors influence initial litter quality, mass loss, and microbial activity during the first year of decomposition. The dataset includes: • Repeated measurements of remaining biomass (%AFDW), enzymatic activities (β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, peroxidase), and relative abundance of fungi and bacteria at different time points (0, 33, 117, 237, and 347 days for A. unedo and 0, 117, and 347 days for P. angustifolia). • Litter quality variables (fiber, cellulose, lignin, carbon and nitrogen content, C:N ratio) at the beginning and end of the decomposition period. • Experimental factors: three UV radiation levels (UV0, UVA, UVBA) and two rainfall regimes (natural and reduced), applied in 9 m² plots over six years. • Additional data on decomposition rate (k) for pretreated litter. Scope and nature: The data are quantitative, derived from a factorial field experiment with repeated measures. They are relevant for studies on soil ecology, nutrient cycling, climate change impacts on Mediterranean ecosystems, and decomposition modeling. Relation to the publication: This dataset complements the article “UV radiation and reduced rainfall: Legacy effects on litter and first-year decomposition in two Mediterranean evergreen shrubs” (Rodríguez-Hidalgo et al., 2025, Environmental and Experimental Botany), but the description here focuses on the dataset content and structure rather than the study results or conclusions.
DOI: 10.34810/data2889
Authors: Rodríguez Hidalgo, Claudia, Llorens, Laura, Doménech-Pascual, Anna, Romaní, Anna M, González, Josep-Abel, Verdaguer, Dolors
Institution: Universitat de Girona
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Climate action
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7123283441
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