Abstract
Little is known about how restoration strategies affect aspects like leaf litter's quantity, depth and humidity. I analyzed leaf litter's quantity, depth and humidity yearly patterns in a primary tropical lower montane wet forest and two restored areas: a 15 year old secondary forest (unassisted restoration) and a 40 year old Cupressus lusitanica plantation (natural understory). The three habitats are located in the Rio Macho Forest Reserve, Costa Rica. Twenty litter samples were taken every three months (April 2009-April 2010) in each habitat; humidity was measured in 439g samples (average), depth and quantity were measured in five points inside 50x50cm plots. None of the restoration strategies reproduced the primary forest leaf litter humidity, depth and quantity yearly patterns. Primary forest leaf litter humidity was higher and more stable (mean=73.2), followed by secondary forest (mean=63.3) and cypress plantation (mean=52.9) (Kruskall-Wallis=77.93, n=232, p=0.00). In the primary (Kruskal-Wallis=31.63, n=78, p<0.001) and secondary (Kruskal-Wallis=11.79, n=75, p=0.008) forest litter accumulation was higher during April due to strong winds. In the primary forest (Kruskal-wallis=21.83, n=78, p<0.001) and the cypress plantation (Kruskal-wallis=39.99, n=80, p<0.001) leaf litter depth was shallow in October because heavy rains compacted it. Depth patterns were different from quantity patterns and described the leaf litter's structure in different ecosystems though the year. September 01.
Highlights
Tropical forests have undergone extensive deforestation throughout the world (Geist & Lambin 2002, Quesada et al 2009, FAO 2010), increasing the need to develop scientific restoration efforts
Three habitats were selected: a primary forest (or “old growth forest” according to Clark (1996)) near the “El llano” water dam (9o45’56.07” N - 83o51’47.11” W, 1 640msm), in a tropical lower montane wet forest area with ultisol humult soil; a secondary forest (or “young secondary forest” according to Clark (1996)) left to natural succession for about 15 years (9o45’29.52” N - 83o51’23.27” W, 1 684 msm), in a tropical lower montane wet forest area with ultisol humult soil, and a Cupressus lusitanica plantation that has been without management for nearly 40 years and has a poorly developed understory dominated by hardwood leaves species (9o47’52” N 83o51’51” W, 1 309msm)
Dry season: During January the driest place was the plantation ( =31.1%) followed by the secondary forest ( =48.9%) and the primary forest ( =74.7%) (Kruskall-Wallis=35.75, n=59, p
Summary
Tropical forests have undergone extensive deforestation throughout the world (Geist & Lambin 2002, Quesada et al 2009, FAO 2010), increasing the need to develop scientific restoration efforts. The vegetation that is chosen in a restoration program will define temperature and soil humidity, mainly due to canopy density, stratus structure, sunlight that can reach understory and soil, leaf litter production and decomposition rate, and tree falling rate, among others (Mosquera et al 2007) It defines: soil physical and chemical properties (Ayres et al 2009a); understory plant species composition; litter composition coming from the canopy and understory; leaf litter nutrients, production and decaying rate (Mosquera et al 2007, Scherer-Lorenzen et al 2007, Hättenschwiler et al 2008, Vivanco & Austin 2008); organism diversity (Vasconcelos 1999, Naranjo-García 2003, Doblas 2007, Sánchez et al 2007, Bonilla et al 2008, CastroDíez et al 2008, Ayres et al 2009c); and forest regeneration and recovery rates and patterns (Letcher & Chadzon 2009). That the replacement of native by exotic species affects the litter production rate, nitrogen content and nutrient release during decomposition (Bonilla et al 2008, Castro-Díez et al 2008)
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