Abstract

RUBIANO-CARDONA, Kelly; ARCILA-CARDONA, Luisa Fernanda; JIMENEZ-CARMONA, Elizabeth  and  ARMBRECHT, Inge. PRODUCTION, ACCUMULATION, AND DECOMPOSITION OF LEAF LITTER IN A COLOMBIAN SUBANDEAN FOREST AND NEIGHBORING AREAS OF RESTORATION. Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. Univ. Caldas [online]. 2013, vol.17, n.2, pp.47-59. ISSN 0123-3068.

Production, accumulation, and decomposition of leaf litter constitute an important entry route for nutrient cycling in ecosystems, but deforestation and soil productive exploitation can affect them. This study evaluated the dynamics of leaf litter in an Andean rural livestock landscape where, since 2003, restoration took place in four biological corridors connecting two forest fragments. The study comprised three periods and 11 sites classified into four types of vegetation cover: (1) forest; (2) pasture; (3) restored areas from pastures (RA-pasture); (4) restored areas from harvested pine and cypress forest plantations (RA-forestry). Methods involved 63 leaf litter collecting traps; 288 mulch samples; 192 decomposition bags, and five environmental variables measured. The environmental conditions of the RAs were similar to those of the forest and differed from that of the pasture. Production was highest in the forest. Accumulation in forests was similar to RA-forestry, but different to that of the pastures and RA-pasture. Decomposition was rapid (> 70% at 45 days) and greater in the RAs than in forests and pastures. Recovery of recycling processes is still far from reaching complete restoration, with RA-forestry being closest. Physical factors (precipitation, gravity) seem to play an important role in the dynamics in all the vegetation covers of this mountainous landscape.

Keywords : ecological restoration; montane forests; nutrient cycling; organic matter; primary productivity.

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