Abstract
Litter dynamics is one of the fundamental processes for the growth and maintenance of native forest fragments, being considered the main pathway for nutrient cycling in forests. Studies on litter production and nutrient content therefore provide insights that provide a better understanding of nutrient dynamics. This study identifies the seasonality and meteorological conditions that influence the quantity and return of nutrients through litter in an Atlantic Forest fragment. Litter sampling was carried out monthly in 12 permanent plots. Each plot contained 5 littertraps distributed systematically. The litter was classified, and the dry mass and nutrients in the leaves and branches and miscellaneous fractions was quantified. Seasonal behavior was observed, with the highest depositions in the winter season. The average annual production was 6.78 Mg ha-1, with 64.9% being composed of leaves. The mean annual nutrient intake was 135.1, 115.7, 39.7, 23.5, 17.6 and 4.6 kg ha-1 for Ca, N, K, Mg, S and P, respectively. The meteorological variable precipitation influenced the deposition pattern. The increase in nutrient-use efficiency in the second year compared to the first indicates that plants strategically may be re-translocating relative amounts of their nutrients under water stress conditions.
 Keywords: ecosystem functions, nutrient cycling, secondary succession.
Highlights
The continued exploitation of natural resources is responsible for forest fragmentation and consequent loss of biodiversity (Fahrig, 2003)
The state of Espírito Santo is fully inserted in this biome; only 10.5% of the original area remains (SOS Mata Atlântica, 2020)
The assessment of nutrient cycling is an indicator for the degree of sustainability of ecosystems (Haag, 1985; Balieiro et al, 2004)
Summary
The continued exploitation of natural resources is responsible for forest fragmentation and consequent loss of biodiversity (Fahrig, 2003). Nutrient cycling is the process in which the nutrients adsorbed by plants return to the soil through the input and decomposition of plant tissues, where they will be mineralized and made available again to plants (Odum, 1988) This process is of great importance for natural systems, especially in tropical areas, where the soils are highly weathered (Laliberte et al, 2013). Assessment of litter seasonality and nutrient content for two years or more can provide a better understanding of nutrient dynamics across the biogeochemical cycle This information supports the choice of the most suitable species for the formation and enrichment of the fragments (Caldeira et al, 2008). Associated with low water availability, lower temperatures are responsible for litter peaks (Lawrence, 2005; Wang et al, 2021) Based on these reasons, monitoring litter composition and its nutrients is essential for forest fragment restoration strategies. Considering that meteorological variables influence litter seasonality, this study evaluated the deposition and input of nutrients over two years
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