Dynamics of leaf litter humidity, depth and quantity: two restoration strategies failed to mimic ground microhabitat conditions of a low montane and premontane forest in Costa Rica.

Abstract

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 Río 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 ( =73.2), followed by secondary forest ( =63.3) and cypress plantation ( =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. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (3):

Demography of the land snail Tikoconus (Tikoconus) costarricanus (Stylommatophora: Euconulidae) in tropical low montane and premontane forests, Costa Rica

“…I measured leaf litter depth with a standard millimetric ruler in five independent places of each subplot and used the average as depth (Barrientos, 2000). I assessed leaf litter quantity by the number of hardwood tree leaves that could be threaded with an ice pick, again using the average from five samples (Barrientos, 2012). In each subplot, I collected litter, including small branches less than 5 mm in diameter, fragmented litter, humus and topsoil.…”

“…I also analyzed specimen size in relation with habitat and sampling date. I detailed leaf litter humidity, quantity and depth dynamics in a previous paper (Barrientos, 2012).…”

“…As explained by Barrientos (2012) there are three major trends on forest restoration techniques applied in Costa Rica and little is known about their impact on native fauna. In this paper, I analyse the demography of T. (T.) costaricanus Barrientos, an endemic terrestrial snail, in three habitats with different restoration techniques in tropical low montane and premontane regions.…”

An Assessment of a Community-Based, Forest Restoration Programme in Durban (eThekwini), South Africa

“…Forest litter accumulation was assessed by measuring litter cover and depth [22,23]. Within each subplot, the litter percentage of cover was visually estimated.…”

Sistema reproductivo, comportamiento de apareamiento y ecología básica de un caracol tropical extremadamente raro: Drymaeus tripictus (Stylommatophora: Bulimulidae)

“…Canopy may favour D. tripictus, because it occurs in the primary forest and the cypress plantation, but not in secondary forest (where the canopy is thinner). Land molluscs are greatly affected by humidity and vegetation, therefore, litter, moisture, canopy coverage and treefall gaps should be considered in future analyses (Alvarez & Willig, 1993;Pérez, 1994;Cowie, Nishida, Basset, & Gon, 1995;Horsák & Hájek, 2003;Barrientos, 2012).…”