IMBIV   05474
INSTITUTO MULTIDISCIPLINARIO DE BIOLOGIA VEGETAL
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
: Area and edge effects on leaf-litter decomposition in a fragmented Subtropical Dry Forest
Autor/es:
MORENO, MARÍA LAURA; BERNASCHINI, MARÍA LAURA; PÉREZ HARGUINDEGUY, NATALIA; VALLADARES, GRACIELA
Lugar:
Oporto
Reunión:
Congreso; 7th Meeting of young researchs of University of Porto; 2014
Institución organizadora:
Universidad do Porto
Resumen:
South American tropical and subtropical dry forests are disappearing at an alarming rate, with 80 %
deforestation of the original area being recorded in the last decade. Deforestation involves habitat loss and
fragmentation, i.e. the transformation of a forested area to a number of smaller forest remnants embedded in
a matrix with different land use, usually agricultural. In forest remnants, changes in soil enviroment (i.e. the
sum of soil physicochemical and biological properties, and microclimate) could have significant effects on key
ecosystems processes. In this work, we experimentally analyzed leaf-litter decomposition in a fragmented
Chaco Serrano forest in central Argentina. We asked whether decomposition can be affected by forest area
and edge effects. By using a common substrate (from native plants) we avoided effects mediated by changes
in litter quality, thus focussing on effects of in situ conditions for decomposition. We collected freshly senesced
leaf material of two abundant native species and constructed 72 litter-bags. The litter-bags were incubated
during 120 days in the edge and interior of 12 forest remnants (0.57-1000 ha). We analized by linear mixed
models if the decomposition rate (% dry weight mass loss) of a common substrate varied with fragment size
and between forest edge and interior. Decomposition declined with fragment size, with no significant effects
of location (edge/interior). Our results suggest that in situ conditions for decomposition may change as a
consequence of forest fragmentation, specifically as a result fragment size. The results also suggest that the
mechanisms underlying such effects may involve changes in decomposer/detritivores biota.