Effects of fallen Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) on understory plant, invertebrate, and fungi communities

For nearly two years, natural deposition of Spanish moss was excluded from 2m x 2m plots positioned in the understory of a single live oak at each of two field sites. After 29 months, we measured the effects of fallen Spanish moss, relative to unmanipulated control plots that intercepted natural levels of fallen Spanish moss, on understory grass, invertebrate, and fungi communities as well as on litter layer depth, and litter decomposition rates using litter bags. This research was conducted in two fields on Sapelo Island, GA: Long Tabby (LT) and King's Field (KF). Experimental exclusions were maintained by manually removing Spanish moss from experimental plots monthly over the duration of the experiment.

本实验于佐治亚州萨佩洛岛（Sapelo Island, GA）的两块野外样地开展，分别为长塔比（Long Tabby, LT）与国王牧场（King's Field, KF）。实验期间，我们在两个站点各一株活栎的林下设置了2米×2米的样方，并对其实施了近2年的西班牙苔藓（Spanish moss）自然沉降排除处理。实验持续29个月后，以拦截了自然沉降量西班牙苔藓的未处理对照样方为参照，我们测定了沉降的西班牙苔藓对林下草本植物、无脊椎动物、真菌群落，以及枯落物层厚度和枯落物分解速率的影响，其中枯落物分解速率采用枯落物袋（litter bags）法测定。为维持该实验处理，我们在实验全程每月手动移除实验样方内的西班牙苔藓。