Diversity and dynamics of arthropods and microbes, and nutrient release during green litter decomposition in a simulated hurricane experiment

Abstract

Hurricanes generate disturbances in forests such as canopy opening, fallen trees and leaves which alter physicochemical characteristics of the habitat. Litter decomposition depends primarily on the interaction among climate, litter quality and biota, as a consequence any change in habitats will result in changes in these factors. Our objective is to evaluate the effects of hurricane driven changes to forests on green litter decomposition, decomposer communities and nutrient mineralization. For this study, three blocks were selected, each with two plots of 20m x 20m, one plot was used for control and the other Canopy opening (Trim). In each subplot, litterbags with different mesh sizes were placed. Each of these litterbags were used as the sampling unit. In each one, decomposer fauna and nutrients were measured, and the weight of green litter from the litterbags was used for measure mass loss through time. Results showed arthropod abundance was significant different through time and the number of taxonomic groups was significantly different between control and trim+detritus. In addition, significant differences in available nutrient between control and trim+detritus, and among litterbags mesh sizes and the number of phylotypes was significant different among litterbag mesh size. For example nitrogen and phosphorous were significantly higher in trim+detritus in large mesh size and v decomposer arthropod abundance was higher in large mesh size. Furthermore mass remaining (%) was significant different through time but not between treatments. Therefore our result showed that abundance of arthropods does not affect the loss of mass, because the effect of arthropods on leaf litter decomposition occurs on a smaller scale, not on a meso-scale, as a result of the interaction between arthropods and microbes. Our result showed that abundance was higher in 84 days in both treatments, while the abundance of fungi was lower in 84 days. Consequently, there was a trend for higher arthropod abundance, low fungi abundance, and nutrient availability, suggesting trophic dynamics mediated by decomposer microbes.

Citation

Moreno Rosado, Ivia I. 2019. Diversity and dynamics of arthropods and microbes, and nutrient release during green litter decomposition in a simulated hurricane experiment. Doctoral Dissertation. Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Gurabo Campus. School of Natural Sciences and Technology, Environmental Sciences. Gurabo, Puerto Rico. 103 pp.