Summary
Densities of the different taxa of microarthropods per gram of litter in litter bags varied widely from the rainy to the dry season. Collembola and Acarina constituted more than 86% of the total microarthropods, and occurred in significantly greater numbers in the coarse-mesh bags than the fine-mesh bags. There were no fauna in the litter of suspended bags. The average weight loss was greater in the coarse-mesh bags (50.4%) than in the fine-mesh bags (44.5%), and the suspended bags (7.4%). Similarly, the concentrations of N and Ca were greater in the litter of coarse-mesh bags compared to that of the fine-mesh bags. In contrast, the concentrations of P and K were comparatively lower in coarse-mesh bags. The mass loss of litter showed a negative linear correlation with the total Collembola and with litter temperature. The N concentrations in the litter in both the mesh bags showed negative correlations with the abundance of total Collembola, and with that of Lepidocyrtus sp. and Sminthuridae, and rainfall. The N concentration in the litter in the coarse-mesh bags was positively correlated with the total number of arthropods but, surprisingly, was negatively correlated with the total number of Acarina. The concentration of Ca showed negative correlations with rainfall and litter moisture only. The P concentration showed positive correlations with total Collembola, with Lepidocyrtus sp. and Sminthuridae in both the mesh bags, with rainfall in the fine-mesh bags, and with total microarthropods in the coarse-mesh bags.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson JM, Ineson P, Huish SA (1983a) The effects of animal feeding activities of element release from deciduous forest litter and soil organic matter. In: Lebrun PH, Andre HM, De Medts A, Gregoire-Wibo C, Wauthy G (eds) Proceedings of the VIII Int Colloq of Soil Zoology. Dieu-Brichart, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, pp 87–100
Anderson JM, Ineson P, Huish SA (1983b) Nitrogen and cation mobilization by soil fauna feeding on leaf litter and soil organic matter from deciduous woodland. Soil Biol Biochem 15:463–467
Anderson JM, Proctor J, Vallack HM (1983c) Ecological studies in four contrasting lowland rain forests in Gunung Malu National Park, Sarawak: III. Decomposition processes and nutrient losses from leaf litter. J Ecol 71:503–527
Crossley DA Jr (1977) The role of terrestrial saprophagous arthropods in forest soils. Current status of concepts. In: Mattson WJ (ed) The role of arthropods in forest ecosystems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 49–56
Crossley DA Jr, Hoglund MP (1962) A litter bag method for the study of microarthropods inhabiting leaf litter. Ecology 43:571–573
Ineson P, Leonard MA, Anderson JM (1982) Effect of Collembolan grazing upon nitrogen and cation leaching from decomposing leaf litter. Soil Biol Biochem 14:601–605
Jackson ML (1967) Soil chemical analysis. Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi
Krucheva GF (1960) The role of invertebrates in the decomposition of oak litter. Soviet Soil Sci 4:360–365
Reddy MV (1984) Ecology of soil and litter inhabiting arthropods. Indian Rev Life Sci 4:169–217
Reddy MV, Toky OP (1987) Seasonal changes in the concentration of some chemical elements in needle litter during decomposition in a pine plantation. In: Szegi J (ed) Proceedings of IXth Int Symp on Soil Biol and Conserv of the Biosphere, pp 507–511
Seastedt TR (1984) The role of microarthropods in decomposition and mineral processes. Annu Rev Entomol 29:25–46
Seastedt TR, Crossley DA Jr (1980) Effects of microarthropods on the seasonal dynamics of nutrients in forest litter. Soil Biol Biochem 12:337–342
Swift MJ, Heal OW, Anderson JM (1979) Decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems. Blackwell, Oxford
Whitford WG, Meentemeyer V, Seastedt TR, Cromack K, Crossley DA Jr, Santos P, Todd RL, Waide JB (1981) Tests of the AET model of litter decomposition in deserts and a clear-cut forest. Ecology 62:275–277
Witkamp M, Crossley DA Jr (1966) The role of microarthropods and microflora in the breakdown of white oak litter. Pedobiologia 6:293–303
Witkamp M, Van der Drift J (1961) Breakdown of forest litter in relation to environmental factors. Plant and Soil 15:295–311
Wood TO (1970) The effects of soil fauna in the decomposition of Eucalyptus leaf litter in the snowy mountains, Australia. In: INRA (ed) Proc of IV Coll Pedobiologie, C R 4éme Colloq Int Zool Soc, INRA, Paris, pp 349–360
Wood TG (1974) Field investigations on the decomposition of leaves of Eucalyptus delegatensis in relation to environmental factors. Pedobiologia 14:343–371
Woods PV, Raison RJ (1983) Decomposition of litter in sub-alpine forests of Eucalyptus delegatensis, E. pauciflora and E. dives. Aust J Ecol 8:287–299
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Reddy, M.V., Venkataiah, B. Influence of microarthropod abundance and climatic factors on weight loss and mineral nutrient contents of Eucalyptus leaf litter during decomposition. Biol Fert Soils 8, 319–324 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00263162
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00263162