Experimental evidence that leaf litter decomposability and flammability are decoupled across gymnosperm species

Abstract Biological decomposition and wildfire are two predominant alternative processes that can mineralize organic C in forest litter. Currently, the relationships between fire still poorly understood. We provide an empirical test of hypothesized decoupling surface litter bed decomposability flammability, underlying traits trait spectra. employed a 41‐species set gymnosperms very broad evolutionary geographic spread, because wide range (absent to frequent) regimes they associated with. found interspecific pattern mass loss proportions “common garden” experiment was not correlated with any flammability parameters RDA analysis also showed leaf layers were decoupled across species. This originates from former depending mostly on size shape spectrum latter PES those spectra being virtually uncorrelated. Synthesis : Our results show that, indeed, species, this be explained by their different drivers terms spectra: chemical for size‐shape layer flammability.