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Exotic tree leaf litter accumulation and mass loss dynamics compared with two sympatric native species in south Florida, USA

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Abstract

The exotic tree Melaleuca quinquenervia (melaleuca) forms dense forests usually characterized by low plant diversities and dense litter biomass accumulations on forest floors of ecologically sensitive ecosystems, including portions of the Florida Everglades. We quantified litter accumulation in mature melaleuca stands and compared decomposition rates of melaleuca leaves with a sympatric native plant, either Cladium jamaicense (sawgrass) in sawgrass marshes or Pinus elliottii (slash pine) in pine flatwoods habitats that varied in soil types. Total litter accumulation in mature melaleuca forests prior to June 1997 ranged from 12.27 to 25.63 Mg ha−1. Overall, melaleuca leaves decomposed faster in organically rich versus arenaceous soils. Decomposition rates were lower for melaleuca leaves than for sawgrass in both melaleuca-invaded and uninvaded sawgrass marshes. In arenaceous soils of pine flatwoods, melaleuca leaf and pine needle decomposition rates were similar. Complete mineralization of sawgrass leaves occurred after 258 weeks, whereas melaleuca leaves had up to 14% and pine foliage had up to 19% of the original biomass remaining after 322 weeks. Total carbon (C) in intact decomposing leaves varied slightly, but total nitrogen (N) steadily increased for all three species; the greatest being a fourfold in sawgrass. Increases in N concentrations caused decreases in the C/N ratios of all species but remained within an optimal range (20–30) in sawgrass resulting in higher decomposition rates compared to melaleuca leaves and pine needles (C/N ratio >30). Slower decomposition of melaleuca leaves results in denser litter layers that may negatively affect recruitment of other plant species and impede their establishment in invaded communities.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the technical assistance of Jorge Leidi and Reynaldo Moscat in USDA/ARS, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We are particularly indebted to Christopher Grieshop and many other AmeriCorps Volunteers program of the Student Conservation Association for assistance in establishing the permanent plots and data collection. We also acknowledge the constructive comments and criticism of the reviewers who helped improve overall quality of this article. We thank Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management and South Florida Water Management District for providing research sites and financial support, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service, Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33314, USA

    Min B. Rayamajhi, Paul D. Pratt, Ted D. Center & Thai K. Van

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  1. Min B. Rayamajhi
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  2. Paul D. Pratt
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  3. Ted D. Center
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  4. Thai K. Van
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Correspondence to Min B. Rayamajhi.

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Communicated by Agustin Merino.

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Rayamajhi, M.B., Pratt, P.D., Center, T.D. et al. Exotic tree leaf litter accumulation and mass loss dynamics compared with two sympatric native species in south Florida, USA. Eur J Forest Res 129, 1155–1168 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-010-0404-1

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