Temporal Variation of Litterfall and Nutrient Return of Serianthes nelsonii Merr. in a Tropical Karst Forest.

ABSTRACT: Trees contribute to ecosystem nutrient cycling through the amount, timing, and composition of litterfall. Understanding the nature of this contribution from endangered tree species may aid in species and habitat recovery efforts. Serianthes nelsonii is an endangered tree species from the Mariana Islands, and little is known about litterfall dynamics. The timing of leaf, fruit, and stem litterfall was determined to more fully understand the return of nutrients via litter. The total annual litterfall was 272.8 g·m−2, with 45% represented by leaves, 48% represented by stems, and 7% represented by fruits. Stem litterfall weight contrasted more from month to month than the other organs, and leaf litterfall exhibited the most even distribution throughout the year. The timing of fruit and stem li

SUBMITTER: Marler TE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9459683 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature