Litter Fall Collection Study in Pinyon-Juniper, Cottowood, and Spruce-Fir-Aspen Forests at the Sevilleta NWR, Bosque del Apache NWR, and the Cibola National Forest, New Mexico (1992-1993)

The litterfall study was designed to assess the quantity of biomass (leaves, twigs, reproductive materials) falling from tree species in different ecosystem types. Three study sites selected were:  (1) the pinyon-juniper woodland site near Cerro Montoso on the Sevilleta NWR; (2) the cottonwood forest LTER site along the Rio Grande at Bosque del Apache NWR; and (2) the old-growth spruce-fir-aspen site near South Baldy in the Magdalena Mountains (Cibola National Forest).  The study was conducted over two years (1992-1993) to compare litterfall rates and quantities among sites, seasons and years.