Leaf litter identity rather than diversity shapes microbial functions and microarthropod abundance in tropical montane rainforests.

ABSTRACT: In tropical forest ecosystems leaf litter from a large variety of species enters the decomposer system, however, the impact of leaf litter diversity on the abundance and activity of soil organisms during decomposition is little known. We investigated the effect of leaf litter diversity and identity on microbial functions and the abundance of microarthropods in Ecuadorian tropical montane rainforests. We used litterbags filled with leaves of six native tree species (Cecropia andina, Dictyocaryum lamarckianum, Myrcia pubescens, Cavendishia zamorensis, Graffenrieda emarginata, and Clusia spp.) and incubated monocultures and all possible two- and four-species combinations in the field for 6 and 12 months. Mass loss, microbial biomass, basal respiration

SUBMITTER: Sanchez-Galindo LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7920764 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature