Recovery of decomposition rates and decomposer invertebrates during rainforest restoration on disused pasture

Converting forest to pasture can alter the roles of biota in ecosystem functioning, while vegetation restoration should arguably assist functional recovery. Since tests of this are scarce, this study quantifies both litter decomposition rates and their association with decomposer invertebrates, across 25 sites representing different phases of deforestation and subsequent reforestation of rainforest. Open and closed (to exclude macro-invertebrates) mesh bags containing forest leaves were exposed in the field for up to eight months, and invertebrates were extracted from separate collections of ground surface litter. Sites spanned five vegetation categories (five sites in each): reference states of both old-growth forest and grazed-pasture; unassisted woody regrowth aged 20-50 years on former pasture; and assisted regeneration aged 1-3 and 5-10 years after interventions were applied to similar regrowth. Decomposition rates in open-bags were about 50 % slower in pasture than old-growth fore...