Fine Litter Dynamics in Tropical Dry Forests Located in Two Contrasting Landscapes of the Colombian Caribbean

Abstract

Tropical dry forests (TDFs) represent 42% of all tropical forests; they are extensive, but little is known of their structure and function. The fine litterfall represents the main route of circulation of organic materials and nutrients in these ecosystems. The objective of this study was to compare several remnants of TDFs located in contrasting landscape units—Mountain and Lomerio—and with different precipitation, in terms of the fluxes of organic materials to the soil, derived from the production of fine litterfall from the canopy. The fine litterfall (including woody material up to 2 cm in diameter) was collected monthly from April 2020 to March 2021, in 29 circular plots of 500 m2 randomly established. High rates of litterfall were recorded in the Lomerio landscape (4.9 Mg ha−1) than in the Mountain landscape (4.5 Mg ha−1). The monthly leaf litter production showed clear seasonal patterns, which were largely driven by the importance of the species in the landscape and the effect of precipitation during the study. Annual fine litter production observed in this study in comparison with other TDFs indicates relevant productivity levels, which contribute to the activation of biogeochemical cycles and improved ecosystem functionality.