Leaf and root litter decomposition is discontinued at high altitude tropical montane rainforests contributing to carbon sequestration.

ABSTRACT: We investigated how altitude affects the decomposition of leaf and root litter in the Andean tropical montane rainforest of southern Ecuador, that is, through changes in the litter quality between altitudes or other site-specific differences in microenvironmental conditions. Leaf litter from three abundant tree species and roots of different diameter from sites at 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 m were placed in litterbags and incubated for 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months. Environmental conditions at the three altitudes and the sampling time were the main factors driving litter decomposition, while origin, and therefore quality of the litter, was of minor importance. At 2,000 and 3,000 m decomposition of litter declined for 12 months reaching a limit value of ~50% of initial and not decomposing furth

SUBMITTER: Marian F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5574766 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature