No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Litterfall and leaf decomposition rates were measured in Choui Island, 45 km downstream from the confluence of the Parana and Paraguay rivers. The material was collected biweekly from April 1985 through September 1986. Decomposition was measured in situ by the litter bag technique.Annual litterfall of Tessaria integriflia gallery forest measured in the period April 1985 to March 1986 was 8.15 t ha-'. Leaflitterfall was seasonal, i.e. significantly less leaflitter was shed during the high water phase than during the low water phase. The 'half life' of the T. integrzzlia litter over 38 days of decomposition was 20 days. At the beginning of the experiment, 15 and 38 days subsamples of remaining detritus were analyzed in order to determine changes in the nutrient content. After 38 days of incubation, the order of nutrient disappearance was Ca > K > N > Mg > Na > P.The number of invertebrates per g remaining litter of Tessaria integriflia increased between incubations days 7 and 3 1. Collector-gatherers were more abundant after 38 days incubation; there were no shredders colonizing the leaf litter bags.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract