Wood Decomposition in Puerto Rican Dry and Wet Forests: a 13-year case study

ABSTRACT

We studied the decomposition of Cyrilla racemiflora wood over a thirteen-year period in tropical dry and wet forests in Puerto Rico.  The mean mass loss, ratio of soft to hardwood, nutrient concentrations and the diversity of wood-inhabiting organisms were greater in the logs collected from the dry forest than the wet forest.  Termites were also more abundant in the logs collected from the tropical dry forest than the tropical wet forests.  High moisture content and a low animal diversity of the logs in the wet forest seem to retard wood decay in this habitat.  Wood decay rates in the tropical dry forest can be related to the confounding effects of high diversity and the functionality of its wood-inhabiting organisms.