Trends in leaf traits, litter dynamics and associated nutrient cycling along a secondary successional chronosequence of semi-evergreen tropical forest in South-Eastern Mexico
Tipo de material:
- Texto
- Computadora
- Recurso en línea
- Descomposición de la hojarasca forestal
- Forest litter decomposition
- Propiedades fisicoquímicas
- Chemicophysical properties
- Bosque secundario
- Secondary forests
- Bosques tropicales
- Tropical forests
- Cristóbal Colón, Calakmul (Campeche, México)
- El Carmen II (Las Carmelas), Calakmul (Campeche, México)
- Reserva de la Biosfera Calakmul (Campeche, México)
- Cristobal Colon, Calakmul (Campeche, Mexico)
- El Carmen II (Las Carmelas), Calakmul (Campeche, Mexico)
- Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (Campeche, Mexico)
- Ciencias agropecuarias y biotecnología Ciencias agrarias Ciencia forestal -- Conservación
- Artfrosur
Disponible para usuarios de ECOSUR con su clave de acceso
Trends in structural and chemical leaf traits along a chronosequence of semi-evergreen tropical forest and their correlation with litter production and decomposition and associated carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) fluxes were assessed. Leaves of 15 dominant species in each plot were collected to measure leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA), C and N concentration and C:N ratio. Litterfall was measured and litter decomposition experiments were set up in 16 experimental plots in a chronosequence of secondary and mature forest. All five leaf traits combined discriminated the secondary forests from mature forest. SLA, N and C:N were significantly correlated to litter decomposition rates. Litter decompositionwas significantly slower inmature forest compared with secondary forests. TheNconcentration of litter was lowest during the dry season, when litterfall was highest. N concentration in fresh leaves was higher than in litter, indicating thatNis re-absorbed before leaf abscission. Leaf dynamics and associated nutrient cycling differ significantly between secondary forests andmature forest. Ecosystem-level leaf structural and chemical traits are good predictors of the stage of the forest and explain well the differences in decomposition rates between secondary and primary forests. Inglés