Plant Litter Decomposition at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico (1990-1998)

The long-term goal of the decomposition study was to document the effects of climate variation on decomposition of major plant litter-types. The project began in 1989 and underwent changes of locations and litter types. The long-term litter types included black grama, Indian rice grass, juniper, and creosote. Â Mass loss of the litter types can be compared to precipitation and other meteorological factors obtained at nearby locations.