Fine litterfall and related nutrient inputs resulting from hurricane Hugo in subtropical wet and lower montane rain forests of Puerto Rico
Fine litter deposition and decomposition within the upper tree canopy was measured in a neotropical cloud forest to determine the potential nutrient input to epiphyte communities from intercepted tree litterfall. A comparable amount of fine litter passed through the canopy (752 g.m-2.yr-1) as arrived on the forest floor (820 g.m-2.yr-1), but < 1% of the biomass and nutrients of this ''gross litterfall'' was retained within the upper tree canopy. The standing crop of litter in the canopy (almost-equal-to 170 g/m2 of branch surface area, 8.8 g/m2 of ground area) is equivalent to only 1% of the standing crop of litter on the forest floor.
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | Defoliación, Nutrientes, Desastres naturales, Selva lluviosa, Huracán Hugo, 1989, Hojarasca, |
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