Decomposition experiment with standard substrate. Funcional traits (SLA, LDMC and SSD) associated to survey of woody vegetation in the sensitive section of the RAPELD module in the Rio Cachoeira Natural Reserve, Antonina, Paraná, Brazil

The study was done in a RAPELD site, which consists of permanent plots with a standardized sample design for long term
ecological studies. This method consists of a module (locally called Cachoeira Module) containing ten plots of one hectare (40 x
250 meters), systematically distributed (distant 1km each) along a rectangle of 1 x 5 km. Each plot was subdivided into 25
segments of 10m, and a sample unit (UA) of 75m2 (1.5m x 50m) was delimited for each five segments, totaling 50 UAs. In the
UAs, all shrub and tree individuals with diameter at breast height (DBH)> 1 cm were sampled and plated. In these individuals
were measured: Height; diameter at breast height; x and y coordinates (for location of the individual within the plot). In each
subplot, functional characteristics (SSD, SLA and LDMC) of at least one individual of each species was collected. A experiment
was carried out using litterbags filled with standard substrate composed of leaves of Alchornea triplinervia (Spreng.) Müll. Arg..
Mature leaves were collected directly from the trees in the study region (August 2014) and air dried for one week. Leaf
sub-samples were collected for dry weight determination and used in litterbags (25 x 20 cm; 2 mm mesh size), which were filled
with 10 g of standard substrate.