Temporal variation in the influence of forest succession on caterpillar communities: A long‐term study in a tropical dry forest

Forest succession can influence herbivore communities through changes in host availability, plant quality, microclimate, canopy structure complexity and predator abundance. It is not well known, however, if such influence is constant across years. Caterpillars have been reported to be particularly susceptible to changes in plant community composition across forest succession, as most species are specialists and rely on the presence of their hosts. Nevertheless, in the case of tropical dry forests, plant species have less defined successional boundaries than tropical wet forests, and hence herbivore communities should be able to persist across different successional stages. To test this prediction, caterpillar communities were surveyed during eight consecutive years in a tropical dry forest in four replicated successional stages in Chamela, Jalisco and Mexico. Lepidopteran species richness and diversity were equivalent in mature forests and early successional stages, but a distinctive caterpillar community was found for the recently abandoned pastures. Species composition tended to converge among all four successional stages during the span of eight years. Overall, our results highlight the importance of both primary and secondary forest for the conservation of caterpillar biodiversity at a landscape level. We also highlight the relevance of long‐term studies when assessing the influence of forest succession to account for across year variation in species interactions and climatic factors. Abstract in French is available with online material.     

Changes in tree phenology along natural regeneration in a seasonally dry tropical forest

The applicability of succession models from temperate and tropical wet forests to threatened seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) is questioned. Plant phenology affects ecosystem functions and changes along forest regeneration gradient. To investigate the recovery of ecological functions after disturbances in a SDTF, we recorded the vegetative and reproductive phenologies for trees (DBH >5 cm) for 17 months in southeast Brazil in three successional stages: early (10–15 years after clearing), intermediate (25–30) and late (>50). The vegetative phenology of the 523 individuals was strongly seasonal, with 3% of individuals presenting green leaves in a deciduous dry season. Besides structural and floristic differences, phenological trends were similar between the later stages. Reproduction occurred with higher intensities in the early stage and in the advanced stages only in the dry season, providing key resources to local fauna. The studied SDTF is resilient to ecological functions, rapidly recovering functional processes. The integration of structural and functional knowledge of succession of STDFs may lead to better management of its secondary remnants. Our study suggests that classical forest succession theory developed for other ecosystems may not fully reflect the pattern of SDTF succession, an ecosystem that originally covered 42% of the earth's tropical and subtropical landmass.     

Temporal-spatial variation and controls of soil respiration in different primary succession stages on glacier forehead in gongga mountain, china

Soil respiration (SR) is an important process in the global carbon cycle. It is difficult to estimate SR emission accurately because of its temporal and spatial variability. Primary forest succession on Glacier forehead provides the ideal environment for examining the temporal-spatial variation and controlling factors of SR. However, relevant studies on SR are relatively scarce, and variations, as well as controlling factors, remain uncertain in this kind of region. In this study, we used a static chamber system to measure SR in six sites which represent different stages of forest succession on forehead of a temperate glacier in Gongga Mountain, China. Our results showed that there was substantial temporal (coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 39.3% to 73.9%) and spatial (CV ranged from 12.3% to 88.6%) variation in SR. Soil temperature (ST) at 5 cm depth was the major controlling factor of temporal variation in all six sites. Spatial variation in SR was mainly caused by differences in plant biomass and Total N among the six sites. Moreover, soil moisture (SM), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), soil organic carbon (SOC), pH and bulk density could influence SR by directly or indirectly affecting plant biomass and Total N. Q(10) values (ranged from 2.1 to 4.7) increased along the forest succession, and the mean value (3.3) was larger than that of temperate ecosystems, which indicated a general tendency towards higher-Q(10) in colder ecosystems than in warmer ecosystems. Our findings provided valuable information for understanding temporal-spatial variation and controlling factors of SR.     

长白山阔叶红松林不同演替阶段土壤团聚体粒径组成及有机碳含量变化

阔叶红松林是我国东北重要的原生群落,其土壤团聚体在森林生态系统碳固定中具有重要作用.本研究采用空间代替时间的方法,选取白桦幼龄林、白桦中龄林、白桦成熟林、阔叶红松成熟林和阔叶红松过熟林5个不同演替序列,通过湿筛法研究长白山天然针阔混交林群落恢复演替中土壤团聚体粒径组成及有机碳含量的变化.结果表明: 土壤团聚体粒径组成受演替过程影响较大,不同演替阶段下土壤团聚体各粒级所占比例差异显著.团聚体平均质量直径随演替的进行表现为先升高再降低的单峰形式,且最高点出现在白桦成熟林阶段.土壤中不同粒级的团聚体内有机碳含量随着演替的进行呈先增加后略有下降的趋势,且团聚体内有机碳含量最大值出现在阔叶红松成熟林阶段.在同一演替阶段下,0～5和5～10 cm土层(除演替末期的阔叶红松过熟林外)中的各粒径团聚体内有机碳含量都随着粒径的减小而增加,而10～20 cm土层中的各粒径团聚体内有机碳含量都随着粒径的减小而减小.从演替初期的白桦幼龄林到演替末期的阔叶红松过熟林,每个样地内的同一粒径团聚体内有机碳含量均具有明显的垂直分布特性,均随着土层深度的增加而显著降低.     

中亚热带常绿阔叶林不同演替阶段土壤活性有机碳含量及季节动态

为探明不同演替阶段土壤碳吸存潜力,选取演替时间为15a(演替初期)、47a(演替中期)、110a(演替后期)3个中亚热带常绿阔叶林,分析了各演替阶段的土壤有机碳(SOC)含量以及土壤微生物量碳(MBC)、可溶性碳(DOC)和微生物熵(SMQ)的季节变化。结果表明:演替中、后期不同土层的土壤SOC、MBC、DOC含量和SMQ均显著高于演替初期(P<0.05);与演替中期相比,演替后期土壤MBC、DOC含量有所降低,SOC含量和SMQ无显著差异。土壤SOC、MBC和DOC含量随土层加深而显著性降低(演替初、中期DOC除外),并随演替进行逐渐向腐殖质层富集。不同演替阶段MBC、DOC和SMQ均有显著季节变化,最低值出现在秋季,最高值随演替进程由冬季逐步转向夏季。相关分析表明,不同演替阶段土壤活性有机碳含量与土壤有机碳含量极显著相关(P<0.01),且土壤活性有机碳(MBC、DOC)和SMQ对土壤碳库变化更为敏感。     

Pathways, mechanisms and predictability of vegetation change during tropical dry forest succession

The development of forest succession theory has been based on studies in temperate and tropical wet forests. As rates and pathways of succession vary with the environment, advances in successional theory and study approaches are challenged by controversies derived from such variation and by the scarcity of studies in other ecosystems. During five years, we studied development pathways and dynamics in a chronosequence spanning from very early to late successional stages (ca. 1–60 years) in a tropical dry forest of Mexico. We (1) contrasted dynamic pathways of change in structure, diversity, and species composition with static, chronosequence-based trends, (2) examined how structure and successional dynamics of guilds of trees shape community change, and (3) assessed the predictability of succession in this system. Forest diversity and structure increased with time but tree density stabilized early in succession. Dynamic pathways matched chronosequence trends. Succession consisted of two tree-dominated phases characterized by the development and dynamics of a pioneer and a mature forest species guild, respectively. Pioneer species dominated early recruitment (until ca. 10 years after abandonment), and declined before slower growing mature-forest species became dominant or reached maximum development rates (after 40–45 years). Pioneers promoted their replacement early in succession, while mature-forest species recruited and grew constantly throughout the process, with their lowest mortality coinciding with the peak of pioneer abundance. In contrast to prevailing stochastic views, we observed an orderly, community driven series of changes in this dry forest secondary succession. Chronosequences thus represent a valuable approach for revealing system-specific successional pathways, formulating hypotheses on causes and mechanisms and, in combination with repeated sampling, evaluating the effects of vegetation dynamics in pathway variation.     

鼎湖山不同演替阶段森林土壤水分时空变异研究

土壤水分作为森林生态系统水分蓄库的主体,森林土壤水分储量及其时空动态与变异对揭示区域植被恢复与气候变化背景下的森林生态系统水文过程响应与服务功能变化机制具有重要意义。本研究以南亚热带地区典型森林植被演替序列马尾松人工林（Pinus massoniana coniferous forest,PF）-马尾松针阔叶混交林（mixed Pinus massoniana/broad-leaved forest,MF）-季风常绿阔叶林（monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest,MEBF）为研究对象,依托中国生态系统研究网络森林样地建设与监测统一规范对鼎湖山森林生态系统定位站站区内分布的上述森林类型土壤水分的长期定位观测（2005-2015年）,通过分析各演替阶段森林土壤不同土层（0-15、15-30、30-45、45-60、60-75和75-90 cm）土壤体积含水量观测数据,探究该区域森林植被恢复过程中的土壤水分变化及其时空变异。结果表明：在雨热同期且干湿季明显的南亚热带地区,鼎湖山森林土壤储水量及其时间动态受降雨量的影响显著,森林土壤层对降雨具有强烈的调蓄和稳定作用,伴随PF→MF→MEBF自然演替进程,调蓄水分能力逐步增强。林型间,由初期阶段PF到顶级群落MEBF,森林土壤水分储量逐渐提高,且演替后期林型相对于早期林型,土壤储水量均呈现为较小的年际与年内变幅。干、湿季而言,干季时林型间的土壤储水量差异大于湿季,干季时MEBF和MF土壤含水量分别是PF的1.33倍和1.11倍。从土壤含水量的干、湿季期间变异来看,不同林型各土层土壤含水量的变异系数大小均表现为干季大于湿季;垂直剖面方向上,突出表现为无论干湿季MEBF各层土壤含水量变异均比其他两种林型较为缓和,充分体现了MEBF优越的土壤水分时空调配能力。整体上,伴随PF→MF→MEBF自然演替进程,土壤水分储量及其稳定性逐步提升。     

大兴安岭落叶松林不同演替阶段土壤细菌群落结构与功能潜势

采用土壤细菌16S rDNA高通量测序方法研究了大兴安岭汗马自然保护区落叶松林不同演替阶段的土壤细菌群落结构和功能.结果表明: 不同演替阶段落叶松林土壤细菌优势门为变形菌门、酸杆菌门、疣微菌门、拟杆菌门、放线菌门、浮霉菌门和绿弯菌门,随着演替的进行,酸杆菌门相对丰度逐渐增加,绿弯菌门相对丰度逐渐减少,优势门相对丰度在不同演替阶段不同.细菌群落α多样性在不同演替阶段间无显著差异,但其群落结构分别在落叶松幼龄林与中龄林、幼龄林与过熟林、近熟林与成熟林之间存在显著差异.土壤氧化还原电位、土壤pH和有效磷是影响细菌群落结构的主要环境因素,其中土壤氧化还原电位对微生物群落结构影响最大.随着演替的进行,细菌参与的固氮作用、反硝化作用、氨氧化作用、木质素降解作用呈逐渐减弱的趋势,硫酸盐异化还原作用呈先降后升的趋势,碳固定作用呈先升后降的趋势,碱性磷酸酶没有明显的变化规律,影响土壤功能的主要因素有土壤有效磷和氧化还原电位等.     

亚热带次级森林演替过程中模拟氮磷沉降对土壤微生物生物量及土壤养分的影响

氮（N）沉降深刻影响着森林生态系统的生物多样性、生产力和稳定性。亚热带地区森林土壤磷（P）的有效性较低,N沉降将更突显P的限制作用。N、P输入对亚热带次级森林土壤的影响是否依赖于森林演替阶段知之甚少。选取两种不同演替年龄阶段（年轻林：<40 a;老年林：>85 a）的亚热带常绿阔叶林,设置模拟N和/或P沉降（10 g m^-2 a^-1）4个处理（Ctrl、N、P、NP）,连续处理4.5年后采集表层、次表层和下底层（0-15、15-30、30-60 cm）土壤样品,综合分析了土壤微生物生物量碳（MBC）氮（MBN）和多种土壤养分含量。结果表明,MBC、MBN及土壤养分含量均随土壤深度增加而降低。N添加对两种演替阶段森林土壤中MBC和MBN均无显著影响。施P相关处理（P和NP）对年轻林表层土壤MBC和MBN无显著影响,但显著增加了老年林表层土壤MBC和MBN（P<0.05）,表明老年林可能比年轻林更易受P限制。N添加显著增加了两种演替森林表层土壤可溶性有机氮（DON）、氨态氮（NH₄⁺-N）和硝态氮（NO₃^--N）的含量（P<0.05）;P相关处理（P和NP）显著增加两种演替阶段表层和次表层土壤速效磷（AP）以及表层土壤全磷（TP）的含量（P<0.05）。土壤MBC和MBN与土壤中各养分指标（可溶性有机碳DOC、DON、NH₄⁺-N、NO₃^--N、AP、全碳TC、全氮TN和TP）呈显著正相关关系,土壤TC、TN和DOC是影响土壤微生物生物量的主要因子。研究可为评估和揭示未来全球环境变化背景下不同演替林龄亚热带森林的土肥潜力及土壤质量的演变提供一定的科学理论依据。     

中国温带阔叶红松林不同演替系列土壤有机碳矿化特征

土壤有机碳矿化与陆地生态系统碳循环和全球气候变化关系密切,为准确评估中国温带小兴安岭阔叶红松林不同演替系列土壤有机碳矿化特征及变化规律。以年代序列法代替群落次生演替过程,采用室内恒温培养(碱液吸收法)测定阔叶红松林不同演替系列(中生演替系列、湿生演替系列、旱生演替系列)6种群落类型土壤有机碳矿化量和矿化速率。3个演替系列土壤有机碳含量均表现出一致的剖面变化特征,随着土层深度的加深有机碳矿化量逐渐降少。且不同演替系列土层间有机碳矿化量不同,中生演替系列原始阔叶红松林土壤有机碳累计矿化量最大,其次为旱生演替系列,湿生演替系列最小。3个演替系列土壤有机碳矿化速率随时间变化呈现基本一致的趋势,即培养前期快速下降、后期逐渐趋于平稳。3个演替系列6种群落类型土壤有机碳矿化差异显著,表现为原始阔叶红松林白桦次生林云冷杉红松林红松枫桦次生林蒙古栎红松林蒙古栎、黑桦次生林。阔叶红松林不同演替系列土壤有机矿化采用非线性指数拟合效果较好。阔叶红松林不同演替系列土壤有机碳矿化与土壤全氮、凋落物量显著正相关,与土壤含水率、容重、土壤酸碱度显著负相关。不同演替系列群落的演替历史、土壤质地和养分状况等生态因子是导致阔叶红松林不同演替系列土壤有机碳矿化差异的原因。     

Removal of cattle accelerates tropical dry forest succession in Northwestern Mexico

Domestic livestock influence patterns of secondary succession across forest ecosystems. However, the effects of cattle on the regeneration of tropical dry forests (TDF) in Mexico are poorly understood, largely because it is difficult to locate forests that are not grazed by cattle or other livestock. We describe changes in forest composition and structure along a successional chronosequence of TDF stands with and without cattle (chronic grazing or exclusion from grazing for ~ 8 year). Forest stands were grouped into five successional stages, ranging from recently abandoned to mature forest, for a total of 2.7 ha of the sampled area. The absence of cattle increased woody plant (tree and shrub) density and species richness, particularly in mid-successional and mature forest stands. Species diversity and evenness were generally greater in sites where cattle were removed and cattle grazing in early successional stands reduced establishment and/or recruitment of new individuals and species. Removal of cattle from forest stands undergoing succession appears to facilitate a progressive and non-linear change of forest structure and compositional attributes associated with rapid recovery, while cattle browsing acts as a chronic disturbance factor that compromises the resilience and structural and functional integrity of the TDF in northwestern Mexico. These results are important for the conservation, management, and restoration of Neotropical dry forests.     

Successional and seasonal variations in soil and litter microbial community structure and function during tropical postagricultural forest regeneration: a multiyear study

Soil microorganisms regulate fundamental biochemical processes in plant litter decomposition and soil organic matter (SOM) transformations. Understanding how microbial communities respond to changes in vegetation is critical for improving predictions of how land‐cover change affects belowground carbon storage and nutrient availability. We measured intra‐ and interannual variability in soil and forest litter microbial community composition and activity via phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) and extracellular enzyme activity across a well‐replicated, long‐term chronosequence of secondary forests growing on abandoned pastures in the wet subtropical forest life zone of Puerto Rico. Microbial community PLFA structure differed between young secondary forests and older secondary and primary forests, following successional shifts in tree species composition. These successional patterns held across seasons, but the microbial groups driving these patterns differed over time. Microbial community composition from the forest litter differed greatly from those in the soil, but did not show the same successional trends. Extracellular enzyme activity did not differ with forest succession, but varied by season with greater rates of potential activity in the dry seasons. We found few robust significant relationships among microbial community parameters and soil pH, moisture, carbon, and nitrogen concentrations. Observed inter‐ and intrannual variability in microbial community structure and activity reveal the importance of a multiple, temporal sampling strategy when investigating microbial community dynamics with land‐use change. Successional control over microbial composition with forest recovery suggests strong links between above and belowground communities.     

云南松林次生演替阶段土壤细菌群落的变化

土壤细菌多样性是维持森林生态系统功能的关键因子,森林演替是影响其动态变化的重要因素。研究云南松林不同演替阶段土壤细菌群落结构及其多样性的变化规律,有助于深入理解森林生态系统恢复过程的驱动机制。本研究以云南省永仁县皆伐后形成的针叶林、针阔混交林和常绿阔叶林为对象,基于Illumina Hiseq高通量测序技术,分析森林演替过程中土壤细菌群落组成、结构、多样性及其影响因子的变化。结果表明: 土壤细菌的种群分类单元、Ace指数、Chao1指数和Shannon指数均随着演替进行呈减少趋势,演替早期阶段土壤的细菌总数、菌群丰富度及复杂程度最高。不同演替阶段细菌群落结构存在显著差异,其中,针阔混交林的差异最大,变形菌门和酸杆菌门为各演替序列共有的优势类群,放线菌门、绿弯菌门和Patescibacteria是演替早期的优势类群,且随着演替进行呈现减少趋势;变形菌门和WPS-2相对多度随演替进行呈增加趋势。土壤pH和乔木层物种丰富度是驱动次生演替过程中土壤细菌群落组成变化的关键因子。随着演替的进行,土壤细菌多样性减少,群落组成差异加大。     

热带森林不同演替阶段蚂蚁巢穴的分布特征及其影响因素

为探明热带森林蚂蚁巢穴的分布特征及其影响因素, 采用样方法研究了西双版纳不同演替阶段热带森林定居巢穴蚂蚁的种类及其巢穴的密度、盖度和空间分布特征, 并分析了土壤理化环境与蚂蚁种类总数、巢穴密度及盖度的相关性。结果表明, 不同演替阶段热带森林蚂蚁种类总数、巢穴的密度及盖度大小顺序为: 小果野芭蕉 (Musa acuminata)群落>白背桐(Mallotus paniculatus)群落>思茅崖豆(Mellettia leptobotrya)群落, 并且热带森林的演替类型显著影响蚂蚁种类总数及巢穴密度, 而对巢穴盖度的影响未达到显著水平; 蚂蚁种类总数、巢穴密度与土壤总有机碳和水解氮显著正相关, 与土壤容重和土壤含水率显著负相关, 但所选择的土壤理化指标与巢穴盖度的相关性均未达到显著水平; 蚂蚁巢穴的空间分布呈随机分布格局。我们的数据表明, 不同演替阶段热带森林所形成的植被类型及土壤环境状况共同影响定居的蚂蚁种类总数与筑巢密度。     

川西亚高山不同演替阶段天然次生林土壤碳氮含量及酶活性特征

为了解次生林自然更新演替过程中土壤碳氮含量及酶活性的变化规律, 采用空间代替时间的方法, 在川西亚高山米亚罗林区选取环境条件基本一致的20世纪60、70和80年代采伐迹地自然更新演替的次生林(60-NSF、70-NSF和80-NSF)和岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)原始林(对照, CK)为对象, 研究了表层(0-20 cm)土壤碳氮含量和土壤酶活性的关系。结果表明: 表层土壤有机碳(SOC)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)、轻组有机碳(LFOC)含量均随森林植被更新演替呈显著降低趋势, 而全氮(TN)和可溶性有机氮(DON)含量则表现为60-NSF < 80-NSF < 70-NSF, 但70-NSF和80-NSF间差异不显著; 次生林表层土壤有机碳氮及其活性组分含量均低于CK, 其中80-NSF的DOC和DON含量与CK差异不显著。次生林的β-葡萄糖苷酶(βG)、β-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)和多酚氧化酶(PHO)活性均显著低于CK, 纤维素水解酶(CBH)和过氧化物酶(PEO)活性与CK无显著差异; 天然次生林中, 60-NSF的βG和CBH活性显著低于70-NSF和80-NSF; 80-NSF的NAG活性显著高于60-NSF和70-NSF; 4种林型之间的PEO活性无显著性差异。Pearson相关分析和冗余分析显示, 土壤TN、LFOC和DOC含量与土壤酶活性显著相关, 其中TN含量解释了酶活性变化的65.4%, 说明土壤氮含量变化可能会影响到土壤碳的水解酶活性, 同时也表明土壤微生物优先利用易分解碳和氮。因此, 次生林近60年的天然更新演替引起了TN、LFOC及DOC含量的显著下降, 导致表层土壤某些胞外酶(如βG、CBH和NAG)活性降低。从土壤酶活性角度看, 岷江冷杉原始林比早期演替阶段的次生林(<60 a)更有利于川西亚高山高海拔森林生态系统的碳氮循环。     

Drought resistance in early and late secondary successional species from a tropical dry forest: the interplay between xylem resistance to embolism,sapwood water storage and leaf shedding

The mechanisms of drought resistance that allow plants to successfully establish at different stages of secondary succession in tropical dry forests are not well understood. We characterized mechanisms of drought resistance in early and late‐successional species and tested whether risk of drought differs across sites at different successional stages, and whether early and late‐successional species differ in resistance to experimentally imposed soil drought. The microenvironment in early successional sites was warmer and drier than in mature forest. Nevertheless, successional groups did not differ in resistance to soil drought. Late‐successional species resisted drought through two independent mechanisms: high resistance of xylem to embolism, or reliance on high stem water storage capacity. High sapwood water reserves delayed the effects of soil drying by transiently decoupling plant and soil water status. Resistance to soil drought resulted from the interplay between variations in xylem vulnerability to embolism, reliance on sapwood water reserves and leaf area reduction, leading to a tradeoff of avoidance against tolerance of soil drought, along which successional groups were not differentiated. Overall, our data suggest that ranking species' performance under soil drought based solely on xylem resistance to embolism may be misleading, especially for species with high sapwood water storage capacity.     

广西马山岩溶次生林群落生物量和碳储量

岩溶植被在岩溶生态系统碳循环和全球碳平衡中具有重要的作用。通过对马山县岩溶次生林年龄序列(幼龄林、中龄林和老龄林)3个演替阶段9个样地(20 m×50 m)的系统取样调查,研究了停止人为干扰后岩溶次生林生物量和碳储量的变化。结果表明:沿幼林、中林和老林群落的顺向演替发展,群落生物量显著增加(P0.05),从幼林群落的48.17 t/hm2、到中林群落113.47 t/hm2,再到老林群落242.59 t/hm2。老林生态系统的碳储量较高,平均为236.69 t/hm2,中林和幼林较低且非常相近,分别为225.17 t/hm2和224.76 t/hm2,各次生林生态系统的碳储量差异不显著(P0.05)。土壤碳储量的大小顺序为幼林(198.44 t/hm2)中林(167.39 t/hm2)老林(113.43 t/hm2)。沿群落正向演替,各次生林生态系统中植物碳储量和土壤碳储量的比例发生明显的变化。幼林的土壤碳储量占生态系统碳储量的88.29%,植物碳储量只占11.71%;中林相应为74.34%和25.66%;而老林为47.92%和52.08%。可见,随着岩溶植被的正向演替,土壤碳转变为植物碳的趋势十分明显,这是岩溶森林不同于酸性土森林的一个显著特征。     

Impact of a hurricane on the herpetofaunal assemblages of a successional chronosequence in a tropical dry forest

Land‐use change is the main cause of deforestation and degradation of tropical forest in Mexico. Frequently, these lands are abandoned leading to a mosaic of natural vegetation in secondary succession. Further degradation of the natural vegetation in these lands could be exacerbated by stochastic catastrophic events such as hurricanes. Information on the impact of human disturbance parallel to natural disturbance has not yet been evaluated for faunal assemblages in tropical dry forests. To evaluate the response of herpetofaunal assemblages to the interaction of human and natural disturbances, we used information of pre‐ and post‐hurricane herpetofaunal assemblages inhabiting different successional stages (pasture, early forest, young forest, intermediate forest, and old growth forest) of dry forest. Herpetofaunal assemblages were surveyed in all successional stages two years before and two years after the hurricane Jova that hit the Pacific Coast of Mexico on October 2011. We registered 4093 individuals of 61 species. Overall, there were only slight effects of successional stage, hurricane Jova or the interaction between them on abundance, observed species richness and diversity of the herpetofauna. However, we found marked changes in estimated richness and composition of frogs, lizards, and snakes among successional stages in response to hurricane Jova. Modifications in vegetation structure as result of hurricane pass promoted particular changes in each successional stage and taxonomic group (anurans, lizards, and snakes). Secondary forests at different stages of succession may attenuate the negative effects of an intense, short‐duration, and low‐frequency natural disturbance such as hurricane Jova on successional herpetofaunal trajectories and species turnover.     

Litter dynamics recover faster than arthropod biodiversity during tropical forest succession

Litterfall and litter decomposition are key elements of nutrient cycling in tropical forests, a process in which decomposer communities such as macro-arthropods play a critical role. Understanding the rate and extent to which ecosystem function and biodiversity recover during succession is useful to managing the growing area of tropical successional forest globally. Using a replicated chronosequence of forest succession (5–15, 15–30, 30–45 years, and primary forest) on abandoned pastures in lowland tropical wet forest, we examined litterfall, litter chemistry, and effects of macro-arthropod exclusion on decomposition of two litter types (primary and 5- to 15-years-old secondary forest). Further, we assessed macro-arthropod diversity and community composition across the chronosequence. Overstory cover, litterfall, and litter nutrients reached levels similar to primary forest within 15–30 years. Young secondary forest litter (5–15 years) had lower initial N and P content, higher C:N, and decayed 60 percent faster than primary forest litter. The presence of macro-arthropods strongly mediated decomposition and nutrient release rates, increasing litter mass loss by 35–44 percent, N released by 53 percent, and P release by 84 percent. Forest age had no effect on soil nutrients, rates of litter decomposition, nutrient release, or macro-arthropod influence. In contrast, abundance and community composition of macro-arthropods remained significantly lower and distinct in all ages of secondary compared with primary forest. Order richness was lower in 5–15 years of secondary compared with primary forest. Our results suggest that in highly productive tropical wet forest, functional recovery of litter dynamics precedes recovery of decomposer community structure and biodiversity.     

Organic matter inputs shift soil enzyme activity and allocation patterns in a wet tropical forest

Soil extracellular enzymes mediate organic matter turnover and nutrient cycling yet remain little studied in one of Earth’s most rapidly changing, productive biomes: tropical forests. Using a long-term leaf litter and throughfall manipulation, we explored relationships between organic matter (OM) inputs, soil chemical properties and enzyme activities in a lowland tropical forest. We assayed six hydrolytic soil enzymes responsible for liberating carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), calculated enzyme activities and ratios in control plots versus treatments, and related these to soil biogeochemical variables. While leaf litter addition and removal tended to increase and decrease enzyme activities per gram soil, respectively, shifts in enzyme allocation patterns implied changes in relative nutrient constraints with altered OM inputs. Enzyme activity ratios in control plots suggested strong belowground P constraints; this was exacerbated when litter inputs were curtailed. Conversely, with double litter inputs, increased enzymatic investment in N acquisition indicated elevated N demand. Across all treatments, total soil C correlated more strongly with enzyme activities than soluble C fluxes, and enzyme ratios were sensitive to resource stoichiometry (soil C:N) and N availability (net N mineralization). Despite high annual precipitation in this site (MAP ~5 m), soil moisture positively correlated with five of six enzymes. Our results suggest resource availability regulates tropical soil enzyme activities, soil moisture plays an additional role even in very wet forests, and relative investment in C, N and P degrading enzymes in tropical soils will often be distinct from higher latitude ecosystems yet is sensitive to OM inputs.