Succession of soil microarthropods during leaf litter decomposition in two contrasting broadleaved tree stands: A litterbag study

Here, we present the results of a litterbag experiment performed in a natural broadleaved forest to study the patterns of microarthropod succession in decomposing litter and the level of adaptation to local vs. spatially distant microhabitats. Ten oak and ten beech leaf-filled, defaunated litterbags were placed under an oak tree, and the same were placed under a beech tree (forty litterbags in total). Five litterbags of each type were collected six and twelve months after the beginning of the experiment, in June and December, respectively. Microarthropod fauna differed between the two sampling events, showing higher diversity and abundance in winter, reflecting the progress of colonization. Microarthropod faunal abundance and species numbers in litterbags filled with oak leaves and placed under the oak trees were significantly higher than those in the other types of litterbags, suggesting the adaptation of the local microarthropod community to this type of litter. The trophic composition of microarthropods showed a higher diversity at the end of the experiment, with increased ratios of predatory and fungivorous taxa, indicating more diverse and easily accessible food resources. Litter dry mass declined continuously for beech litter, while the rate of decline slowed in oak litter between the first and the second sampling events, probably due to the more robust structure of oak leaves compared to beech.