Fine Litter Dynamics in Tropical Dry Forests Located in Two Contrasting Landscapes of the Colombian Caribbean
Tropical dry forests (TDFs) represent 42% of all tropical forests; they are extensive, but little is known of their structure and function. The fine litterfall represents the main route of circulation of organic materials and nutrients in these ecosystems. The objective of this study was to compare...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/5/660 |
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| author | Jeiner Castellanos-Barliza Victoria Carmona-Escobar Jean Linero-Cueto Eber Ropain-Hernández Juan Diego León-Peláez |
| author_facet | Jeiner Castellanos-Barliza Victoria Carmona-Escobar Jean Linero-Cueto Eber Ropain-Hernández Juan Diego León-Peláez |
| author_sort | Jeiner Castellanos-Barliza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tropical dry forests (TDFs) represent 42% of all tropical forests; they are extensive, but little is known of their structure and function. The fine litterfall represents the main route of circulation of organic materials and nutrients in these ecosystems. The objective of this study was to compare several remnants of TDFs located in contrasting landscape units—Mountain and Lomerio—and with different precipitation, in terms of the fluxes of organic materials to the soil, derived from the production of fine litterfall from the canopy. The fine litterfall (including woody material up to 2 cm in diameter) was collected monthly from April 2020 to March 2021, in 29 circular plots of 500 m<sup>2</sup> randomly established. High rates of litterfall were recorded in the Lomerio landscape (4.9 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>) than in the Mountain landscape (4.5 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>). The monthly leaf litter production showed clear seasonal patterns, which were largely driven by the importance of the species in the landscape and the effect of precipitation during the study. Annual fine litter production observed in this study in comparison with other TDFs indicates relevant productivity levels, which contribute to the activation of biogeochemical cycles and improved ecosystem functionality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:52:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-31e79169f3a74afb88fb4ec073fe199b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:52:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-31e79169f3a74afb88fb4ec073fe199b2023-11-23T11:00:53ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-04-0113566010.3390/f13050660Fine Litter Dynamics in Tropical Dry Forests Located in Two Contrasting Landscapes of the Colombian CaribbeanJeiner Castellanos-Barliza0Victoria Carmona-Escobar1Jean Linero-Cueto2Eber Ropain-Hernández3Juan Diego León-Peláez4Grupo de Investigación en Restauración Ecosistémica y Ecología Urbana, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta D.T.C.H., Santa Marta 470002, ColombiaGrupo de Investigación en Restauración Ecosistémica y Ecología Urbana, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta D.T.C.H., Santa Marta 470002, ColombiaFacultad de Ingeniería, Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta D.T.C.H., Santa Marta 470002, ColombiaGrupo de Investigación en Restauración Ecosistémica y Ecología Urbana, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta D.T.C.H., Santa Marta 470002, ColombiaGrupo de Investigación en Restauración Ecológica de Tierras Degradadas en el Trópico, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Calle 59A 63-20, Medellín 050034, ColombiaTropical dry forests (TDFs) represent 42% of all tropical forests; they are extensive, but little is known of their structure and function. The fine litterfall represents the main route of circulation of organic materials and nutrients in these ecosystems. The objective of this study was to compare several remnants of TDFs located in contrasting landscape units—Mountain and Lomerio—and with different precipitation, in terms of the fluxes of organic materials to the soil, derived from the production of fine litterfall from the canopy. The fine litterfall (including woody material up to 2 cm in diameter) was collected monthly from April 2020 to March 2021, in 29 circular plots of 500 m<sup>2</sup> randomly established. High rates of litterfall were recorded in the Lomerio landscape (4.9 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>) than in the Mountain landscape (4.5 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>). The monthly leaf litter production showed clear seasonal patterns, which were largely driven by the importance of the species in the landscape and the effect of precipitation during the study. Annual fine litter production observed in this study in comparison with other TDFs indicates relevant productivity levels, which contribute to the activation of biogeochemical cycles and improved ecosystem functionality.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/5/660biogeochemical cyclesmountain landscapelomerio landscape<i>Astronium graveolens</i><i>Pterocarpus acapulcensis</i> |
| spellingShingle | Jeiner Castellanos-Barliza Victoria Carmona-Escobar Jean Linero-Cueto Eber Ropain-Hernández Juan Diego León-Peláez Fine Litter Dynamics in Tropical Dry Forests Located in Two Contrasting Landscapes of the Colombian Caribbean Forests biogeochemical cycles mountain landscape lomerio landscape <i>Astronium graveolens</i> <i>Pterocarpus acapulcensis</i> |
| title | Fine Litter Dynamics in Tropical Dry Forests Located in Two Contrasting Landscapes of the Colombian Caribbean |
| title_full | Fine Litter Dynamics in Tropical Dry Forests Located in Two Contrasting Landscapes of the Colombian Caribbean |
| title_fullStr | Fine Litter Dynamics in Tropical Dry Forests Located in Two Contrasting Landscapes of the Colombian Caribbean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fine Litter Dynamics in Tropical Dry Forests Located in Two Contrasting Landscapes of the Colombian Caribbean |
| title_short | Fine Litter Dynamics in Tropical Dry Forests Located in Two Contrasting Landscapes of the Colombian Caribbean |
| title_sort | fine litter dynamics in tropical dry forests located in two contrasting landscapes of the colombian caribbean |
| topic | biogeochemical cycles mountain landscape lomerio landscape <i>Astronium graveolens</i> <i>Pterocarpus acapulcensis</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/5/660 |
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