SOIL FAUNA AND LEAF LITTER DECOMPOSITION IN DIFFERENT SUCCESSIONAL STAGES OF A SUBMOUNTAINOUS SEASONAL SEMIDECIDUOUS FOREST

Rodrigo Camara,Marcos Gervasio Pereira,Carlos Eduardo Gabriel Menezes,Luciano Oliveira Toledo

doi:10.5380/rf.v51i2.69413

Abstract

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.

Highlights

Ecological succession is the process by which an ecosystem develops over time through directional changes in plant community structure and composition
This study aimed to evaluate the influence of successional stage on the soil fauna and leaf litter decomposition in a Submountainous Seasonal Semideciduous Forest
16 groups (Chilopoda, Dermaptera, Diplura, Embioptera, Gastropoda, Opilionida, Pauropoda, Plecoptera, Protura, Pseudoscorpionida, Psocoptera, Symphyla, Trichoptera, Thysanoptera, and Thysanura larvae and adults) were restricted to the late-successional forest (LSF) area, while no group was restricted to the intermediate-successional forest (ISF) area

Summary

Introduction

Ecological succession is the process by which an ecosystem develops over time through directional changes in plant community structure and composition. The leaf litter production, which varies according to tree community structure, and nutrient transfer from plants to the soil increase with successional stage (MACHADO et al, 2015a; CAMARA et al, 2018a). O. et al ISSN eletrônico 1982-4688 fragments of Seasonal Semideciduous Forest, observed that late-successional areas had the highest litter decomposition rates, followed by early-successional and intermediate-successional areas. Machado et al (2015a) found higher decomposition rates in late-successional Seasonal Semideciduous Forest but reported intermediate decomposition rates in intermediate-successional stages and low decomposition rates in early succession. Mountainous Dense Ombrophilous Forest fragments in early, intermediate, and late succession were not found to differ in litter decomposition rate (VENDRAMI et al, 2012)

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