Latitudinal responses of litter decomposition to solar radiation.

Photodegradation driven by solar radiation has been confirmed as an important driving factor for litter decomposition. However, previous single-site studies could not quantify the relative contribution of variation in solar radiation to litter decomposition. To address it, we conducted a field experiment in Heshan National Field Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Guangdong (Heshan Station, south subtropical climate), Jigongshan Ecological Research Station, Xinyang, Henan (Jigongshan Station, north subtropical climate) and Daqinggou Ecological Research Station, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Daqinggou Station, temperate climate) at intervals of 10 degrees.