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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
10:20
Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter
Published on: March 12, 2013
Controls over leaf litter decomposition in wet tropical forests.
William R Wieder1, Cory C Cleveland, Alan R Townsend
1Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA. will.wieder@colorado.edu
Ecology
|February 4, 2010
Summary
Litter decomposition in tropical rain forests is influenced by both rainfall and litter quality. Even in high-rainfall areas, reduced precipitation can slow decomposition, with litter chemistry playing a key role.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Biogeochemistry
- Tropical Biology
Background:
- Tropical forests are crucial to the global carbon cycle.
- Climate change projections indicate significant alterations in tropical forest environments.
- Understanding litter decomposition is vital for predicting ecosystem responses to climate change.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interplay between litter chemistry and precipitation in controlling decomposition rates in a high-rainfall tropical forest.
- To determine the relative importance of litter quality versus precipitation in regulating organic matter breakdown.
Main Methods:
- Litter from 11 diverse tree species was analyzed.
- A throughfall manipulation experiment was conducted in a lowland tropical rainforest (>5000 mm annual precipitation).
- Litter decomposition rates were measured under varied precipitation scenarios.
Main Results:
- Reduced simulated rainfall significantly suppressed litter decomposition rates.
- Species-specific litter chemistry variations had a greater impact than precipitation manipulation.
- Litter solubility and lignin:phosphorus ratios were key predictors of decomposition rates.
Conclusions:
- Litter decomposition increases with rainfall up to very high annual precipitation levels.
- Phosphorus availability is a critical factor controlling microbial decomposition in many lowland tropical forests.
- Litter quality is a primary driver of decomposition, even under near-optimal moisture conditions.
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