Coarse Woody Debris in Bisley Experimental Forest and the Rio Icacos Basin

Organic matter pools appear to differ in composition between Bisley and Icacos. On average (n=30), 79% of Bisley organic matter was composed of coarse woody debris. Of the remaining 21% organic matter pool, approximately 2% was from leaves, 9% was from fruit, 9% was from miscellaneous matter, and 1% was from wood matter with diameters < 2.5 cm. In comparison, 57% (n=30) of Icacos organic matter was composed of coarse woody debris. Of the remaining 43% organic matter pool, approximately 0% was from fruit, 16% was from leaves, 10% was from miscellaneous matter, and 18% was from wood matter with diameters < 2.5 cm. The data suggest a less recalcitrant organic matter pool in the Icacos environment and higher rates of turnover than in the Bisley environment. It was also apparent that woody matter (< 2.5 cm diameter) deposition was a significant source of OM inputs in the Icacos plots. Support for this work was provided by grants BSR-8811902, DEB-9411973, DEB-9705814 , DEB-0080538, DEB-0218039 , DEB-0620910 , DEB-1239764, DEB-1546686, and DEB-1831952 from the National Science Foundation to the University of Puerto Rico as part of the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program. Additional support provided by the University of Puerto Rico and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service.