Open AccessSOIL FAUNA AND LEAF LITTER DECOMPOSITION IN DIFFERENT SUCCESSIONAL STAGES OF A SUBMOUNTAINOUS SEASONAL SEMIDECIDUOUS FOREST
Author(s) -
Rodrigo Camara,
Marcos Gervásio Pereira,
Luciano Oliveira Toledo,
Carlos Eduardo Gabriel Menezes
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
floresta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.386
H-Index - 13
eISSN - 1982-4688
pISSN - 0015-3826
DOI - 10.5380/rf.v51i2.69413
Subject(s) - ecological succession , plant litter , litter , species richness , soil biology , species evenness , fauna , environmental science , forest floor , tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests , ecology , agronomy , biology , soil water , nutrient , subtropics
In tropical forests, the stage of ecological succession influences the nutrient cycling. This study aimed to analyze soil fauna community structure, composition, and leaf litter decomposition in fragments of intermediate-successional and late-successional Submountainous Seasonal Semideciduous Forest (ISF and LSF, respectively). We used a square metal frame to collect 10 samples of the leaf litter layer and surface soil (0.00-0.05 m depth) from each area in the wet and dry seasons. Soil fauna individuals were then extracted using a modified Berlese-Tüllgren funnel. For analysis of leaf litter decomposition, 15 litter bags containing 30 g of senescent leaves were randomly placed on the forest floor of each area in the dry season, and three bags were collected after 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days. LSF presented higher value of richness and was more associated with Diptera and Formicidae. There was no clear pattern in evenness and diversity with successional stage. The dissimilarity between ISF and LSF in terms of soil fauna community was greater in the dry season. Litter decomposition was almost identical in both areas.