Regulatory Mechanisms of Tannins on the Decomposition Rate of Mixed Leaf Litter in Submerged Environments

Terrestrial cross-boundary inputs of leaf litter serve as a critical foundation for secondary productivity in freshwater ecosystems. The regulatory mechanisms of tannins in leaf litter on degradation rates under submerged conditions remain unclear. This study employed leaf litter from low-tannin plants <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> (A) and <i>Canna glauca</i> (B) as decomposition substrates, with the high-tannin species <i>Myriophyllum verticillatum</i> (C) incorporated to adjust tannin levels. A 140-day hydroponic degradation experiment was conducted under controlled temperature and dark conditions, which included four mixed litter treatments with a gradient of tannin additions (AB as the control, 0 g; ABC1: 0.5 g; ABC2: 2.5 g; ABC3: 4.5 g) along with two single-species treatments (A and B). The following results were found: (1) Low tannin levels (ABC1) promoted degradation rates of A and B (increased by 1.33-12.70%), whereas high tannin (ABC3) inhibited decomposition (decreased by 6.21-6.82%). (2) Tannin-protein complexes reduce nitrogen bioavailability and inhibit nitrification, thereby disrupting the nitrogen cycle in aquatic systems. In ABC3, total nitrogen content in A and B litter increased by 17.69-26.46% compared to AB, with concurrent 59.29% elevation in water NH₄⁺-N concentration. (3) High tannin induced dominance of oligotrophic stress-resistant bacterial communities (e.g., <i>Treponema</i>) through nutrient limitation and toxicity stress; however, their low metabolic efficiency reduced overall decomposition efficiency. Research reveals that the ecological benefits of plant secondary metabolites outweigh their nutritional quality attributes.