Bokhorst, Stef Frederik
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Research article2013Peer reviewed
Microclimate within litter bags of different mesh size: Implications for the 'arthropod effect' on litter decomposition
Bokhorst, Stef Frederik; Wardle, David
Abstract
In conclusion, different mesh sizes can be used to reliably quantify the role of soil animals in litter mass loss from litter bags. The greater litter mass loss from litter bags with coarser mesh sizes is however caused by the soil animals both promoting litter decomposition and greater litter fragmentation (with the undecomposed fragments then being lost from the bags). Additional approaches are needed to determine the relative importance of these two effects of soil animals on litter mass loss from litter bags. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords
Litter decomposition; Soil arthropods; Microclimate; Evaporation; Leaching; Mesh size
Published in
Soil Biology and Biochemistry
2013, Volume: 58, pages: 147-152
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Wardle, David
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Forest Science
Publication identifier
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.12.001
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/55989