← Elaine Ingham · Research and publications
Season, soil fauna and decomposition in grassland and pine forest
A comparative study of plant litter decomposition.
Study published:
Organisms within their ecosystem
Reducing fauna accelerated decomposition in the forest with abundant fauna and slowed it in the semiarid prairie with lower populations. [1]
The seasonal picture
Decomposition was fastest during winter beneath snow in the pine forest and during wet spring conditions in the grassland systems. [1]
A question for our observations
In an olive grove, we can organize photographs and notes on the same plant residues in different seasons. The question is specific: when and where does the picture change? The study helps us read comparisons with attention to their context.
Three different ecosystems
The comparison connects soil-fauna activity with seasonal conditions in each ecosystem: semiarid prairie, mountain meadow and pine forest.
Sources and references
- Coleman, D. C. et al., including Ingham, E. R. (1990). Seasonal and faunal effects on decomposition in semiarid prairie, meadow and lodgepole pine forest. Pedobiologia, 34, 207–219. DOI: 10.1016/S0031-4056(24)00022-2 Original study record
- Authors’ abstract: related-publications section, title Seasonal and faunal effects…