Particle size alters litter diversity effects on decomposition

Nutrient transfer between decomposing leaves may explain non-additive species diversity effects on decomposition. The influence of the diversity of litter species on decomposition was compared in mixtures composed of large (>200 mm²) or small (<9 mm²) litter fragments. The increase in the number of species (aspen, oak, alder and pine, from monocultures to four species in all possible combinations) initially (at day 43) suppressed respiration, but eventually (after 142 days) did not affect the mass loss of the mixtures of small litter fragments. In contrast, the decomposition of litter in large fragments increased with increased diversity, and 93% of all mixtures decomposed faster than would be predicted from monocultures. The results suggest that the active transport of nutrients by fungal hyphae, rather than passive diffusion, drives positive effect of the litter species diversity on decomposition.     

Plant litter quality influences the contribution of soil fauna to litter decomposition in humid tropical forests, southwestern China

The aim of this field experiment was to quantify the contribution of soil fauna to plant litter decomposition in three forest sites differing in C/N ratio under natural conditions in Xishuangbanna, southwestern China. We conducted a survey of soil fauna communities, the forest floor litter and investigated mass loss of mixed tree species leaf litter for two years in a tropical secondary forest, an evergreen broad-leaf forest and a tropical rain forest. Exclusion treatments of different sized soil fauna from the leaf litter by using varying mesh size litter bags (2 mm and 0.15 mm) were also performed. Mass loss and C and N concentrations in litter bag leaf materials were determined at monthly intervals. We found that: (1) the three forests differed in floor litter biomass and nutrient contents but not in soil fauna richness and abundance; (2) litter mass loss and decomposition rate were slower when soil macrofauna and most of mesofauna were excluded; and (3) greatest soil fauna contribution to plant litter decomposition occurred in the rain forest, where leaf litter C/N ratio was also highest (41.5% contribution: 54.8 C/N ratio), in comparison to 8.69% in the broad-leaf forest and 19.52% in the secondary forest, both with low leaf litter C/N ratios (<32). Our results suggested that, soil fauna played a more pronounced role in the decomposition of mixed leaf litter in tropical rain forest, and significantly bigger effects from fauna were ascribed to the enhancement of N concentration and decrease of C concentration of the initially high C/N ratio litter in this forest site.     

Non-additive effects vary with the number of component residues and their mixing proportions during residue mixture decomposition: A microcosm study

Poplar leaf litter and crop residues (leaves and stems) of two main crops (soybean and maize) collected from semiarid agroforestry systems of Northeast China were used in our microcosm study. The aims were to examine whether non-additive effects (synergistic or antagonistic) between poplar leaf litter and crop residues exist during decomposition and to identify the influence of residue mixing proportion on the incidence of non-additive effects of residue mixture for the same plant residues. We determined residue decomposition rate by measuring mass loss and N release. Synergistic effects between poplar leaf litter and crop residues were more common than additive effects in terms of mass loss and N release. Moreover, the interactive effects between tree leaf litter and crop residues on decomposition varied with the number of component residues and their mixing proportion. Three-residue mixtures produced synergistic effects on mass loss and N release, although two-residue mixtures showed an additive effect in some cases. In addition, as compared with equal proportion, mixing residues with unequal proportion increased the incidence of non-additive effects during decomposition of residue mixture. These findings highlight that residue decomposition dynamics in ecosystems should be assessed on the basis of plant residue mixtures and their mixing proportions, which may help us better understand nutrient dynamics and guide our decisions on nutrient management.     

The influence of plant litter diversity on decomposer abundance and diversity

Although there has been much recent interest in the effect of litter mixing on decomposition processes, much remains unknown about how litter mixing and diversity affects the abundance and diversity of decomposer organisms. We conducted a litter mixing experiment using litterbags in a New Zealand rainforest, in which treatments consisted of litter monocultures of each of 8 forest canopy and understory plant species, as well as mixtures of 2, 4 and 8 species. We found litter mixing to have little effect on net decomposition rates after either 279 or 658 days, and for each species decomposition rates in mixture treatments were the same as in monoculture. Litter species identity had important effects on litter microfauna, mesofauna and macrofauna, with different litter types promoting different subsets of the fauna. Litter mixing had few effects on densities of mesofauna and macrofauna, but did have some important effects on components of the microfauna, notably microbe-feeding and predatory nematodes. At day 279, litter mixing also consistently reduced the ratio of bacterial-feeding to microbe-feeding (bacterial-feeding+fungal-feeding) nematodes, pointing to mixing causing a significant switch from the bacterial-based to the fungal-based energy channel. Litter mixing sometimes influenced the community composition and diversity of nematodes and macrofauna, but effects of litter mixing on diversity were not necessarily positive, and were much weaker than effects of litter species identity on diversity. We conclude that litter mixing effects on the abundance and diversity of decomposer biota, when they occur, are likely to be of secondary and generally minor significance when compared to the effects of litter species identity and composition.     

Leaf litter decomposition in the pure and mixed plantations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cunninghamia lanceolata</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Michelia macclurei</Emphasis> in subtropical China

Leaf litter decomposition of Cunninghamia lanceolata, Michelia macclurei, and their mixture in the corresponding stands in subtropical China was studied using the litterbag method. The objective was to assess the influence of native evergreen broadleaved species on leaf litter decomposition. The hypotheses were: (1) M. macclurei leaf litter with lower C/N ratio and higher initial N concentration decomposed faster than C. lanceolata litter, (2) decomposition rates in litter mixtures could be predicted from single-species decay rates, and (3) litters decomposed more rapidly at the site that contained the same species as in the litterbag. The mass loss of leaf litter was positively correlated with initial N concentration and negatively correlated with C/N ratio. The decomposition rate of M. macclurei leaf litter was significantly higher than that of C. lanceolata needle litter in the pure C. lanceolata stand. Contrary to what would be predicted, the litter mixture decomposed more slowly than expected based on the results from component species decomposing alone. There was no significant difference in litter decomposition rate between different habitats.     

Direct effects of litter decomposition on soil dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in a tropical rainforest

To clarify how litter decomposition processes affect soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and soil dissolved nitrogen (DN) dynamics, we conducted a field experiment on leaf litter and collected DOC and DN from the underlying soil in a tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna, southwest China. Principal components analysis (PCA) showed the first PCA axis (corresponding to degraded litter quantity and quality) explained 61.3% and 71.2% of variation in DOC and DN concentrations, respectively. Stepwise linear regression analysis indicated that litter carbon mass controlled DOC and hemicellulose mass controlled DN concentrations. Litter decomposition was the predominant factor controlling surface-soil DOC and DN dynamics in this tropical rainforest.     

Do invertebrate decomposers affect the disappearance rate of litter mixtures?

We designed an experiment using litter bags with fine and coarse mesh size to analyse interacting effects between invertebrate decomposers and the number of litter species on litter disappearance rates. We used litter of nine broad-leaved tree species to compare disappearance rates of litter from single species with mixtures of two to six species. Species composition of litter and invertebrates interacted strongly in their effects on litter disappearance rate. Contribution of invertebrates to litter disappearance increased with time mainly for litter which disappeared slower in the absence of invertebrates. Disappearance rates were positively correlated with initial N content and negatively correlated to initial C content of litter. These relationships were stronger in the presence of invertebrates, suggesting that their activity is positively related to initial litter chemistry. Number of component litter species, however, had no effect on disappearance rate irrespective of the activity of invertebrates. Using individual rates of disappearance for single species, we calculated the expected rates of disappearance for each of the experimental mixtures of leaf litters. We found that mixtures of several species of leaf litter resulted in significant deviations from the expected values. These deviations showed a significant effect of the number of component litter species. However, this result was caused by a strong negative deviation of one single mixture of six species. The presence of invertebrates resulted in even greater deviations from the expected values, suggesting an important contribution of invertebrates to the effects of litter mixing on litter disappearance rates. Hence, our results underline the importance of idiosyncratic effects of species traits in mixtures. Our results suggest that the influence of invertebrate decomposers interacts with litter chemistry during decomposition, but is not affected by litter species richness per se.     

Leaf decomposition in two semi-evergreen tropical forests: influence of litter quality

Decomposition processes in tropical semi-evergreen forests are still poorly understood. The influence of soil properties and litter quality on decomposition rate was studied in two semi-evergreen forests of Guadeloupe, a forest plantation and a secondary forest, located on different soils. Leaf litter of four tree species was enclosed in litterbags for a 14-month period. Non-linear correlations were calculated between mass loss and the concentration of major leaf components (soluble C, N, lignin, cellulose, tannins, total soluble phenols) in order to determine the best predictor of leaf litter decomposition. Soil physico-chemical properties and ratios between some of the above-mentioned litter quality parameters were also examined as mass loss predictors. In addition, non-linear correlations were calculated between mass loss and litter quality parameters, at successive periods. Litter quality was the main determinant of litter decomposition in the studied forests. Several litter quality parameters were correlated with leaf disappearance, varying according to stages of decomposition. Between 1 month and 2.5 months, the mass loss was correlated negatively with the initial phenol content and with initial lignin:N and (lignin+phenol):N ratios. From 2.5 to 5.5 months, the mass loss was correlated negatively with the initial phenol content and positively with the initial cellulose content. At later stages of decomposition (9-14 months), the mass loss was correlated negatively with the initial tannin content. Differences in soil characteristics and fauna did not seem to be enough to affect decomposition.     

Nutrient dynamics in litter mixtures of four Mediterranean maquis species decomposing in situ

In natural conditions, litters shed from different species become mixed with each other, and decompose together. Most studies deal with decomposition of individual species; few studies investigate the influence of litter mixing on decomposition and nutrient dynamics; the results are contradictory as positive, negative, or no effect, of litter mixing have been observed. In this study we test the hypothesis: i) that litter mixing in the Mediterranean maquis, a nutrient poor, high diversity ecosystem, produces non-additive effects on nutrient dynamics; ii) that the effects vary with the composition in species of the mixture and with the relative amount of the species component the mixture. Two types of 3-species mixtures were set up; one contained three sclerophylls, Phillyrea angustifolia, Pistacia lentiscus and Quercus ilex; the other contained the first two species with the mesophyll Cistus. Litterbags, containing monospecific litters and even and uneven mixtures, were incubated under natural condition in situ; even mixtures had the 3 species in equal proportion, whereas uneven mixtures had one of the species as dominant (50%) and the other two species in equal proportion (25%:25%). Litterbags were retrieved after 92, 188 and 403 days; litters from the mixtures were separately analyzed for mass loss and content of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). Results indicate that mixing influences the dynamics of N, Mn, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn, but scarcely affects the dynamics of K and Na. The comparison of observed to expected values for changes of nutrients in litterbags indicates the occurrence of non-additive effects of litter mixing on movements of N, Fe, Cu, and Zn to or from the litterbags containing the mixtures. The effects depend on the composition in species of the mixture, whereas the relative amount of the species component the mixture is not relevant.     

Linkages between below and aboveground communities: Decomposer responses to simulated tree species loss are largely additive

Inputs of aboveground plant litter influence the abundance and activities of belowground decomposer biota. Litter-mixing studies have examined whether the diversity and heterogeneity of litter inputs affect decomposer communities in ways that can be predicted from monocultures. They have mainly attempted to detect non-additive effects of litter mixing, although individual species effects (additivity) as well as species interactions (non-additivity) may alter decomposition rates. To determine potential impacts of plant species loss on aboveground-decomposer linkages, we assessed both additive and non-additive effects of litter mixing on decomposer communities. A full-factorial litterbag experiment with leaves from four deciduous tree species was conducted, to assess responses of bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and microarthropods. Data were analyzed using a statistical method that first looked for additive effects based on the presence or absence of species and then any significant species interactions. We observed almost exclusively additive effects of all four litter species on decomposer biota, with each species exerting effects on different aspects of the community. These results imply that the consequences of species loss for the decomposer community will be largely predictable from knowledge of single species litter dynamics. The two species at opposite ends of the quality spectrum exerted the most effects. High-quality Liriodendron tulipifera supported a more diverse arthropod community and drove bottom-up effects on the decomposer food web. Low-quality Rhododendron maximum had negative effects on most groups of biota. Litter of mid-quality species exerted fewer effects. The influence of litter species richness on the Tylenchidae (nematodes) was the only non-additive effect of litter mixing. Together, these data demonstrate an effect of plant community composition on decomposer biomass, abundance, and diversity, confirming a link between above and belowground communities. We were able to identify the species to which the decomposer community is most sensitive, aiding predictions of the consequences of the loss of these dominant species on the decomposer community, with potential feedbacks for organic matter and nutrient turnover.     

Tree species effects on microbial respiration from decomposing leaf and fine root litter

Tree species have an impact on decomposition processes of woody litter, but the effects of different tree species on microbial heterotrophic respiration derived from decomposing litter are still unclear. Here we used leaf and fine root litter of six tree species differing in chemical and morphological traits in a temperate forest and elucidated the effects of tree species on the relationships between litter-derived microbial respiration rates and decomposition rates and morphological traits, including specific leaf area (cm² g⁻¹) and specific root length (m g⁻¹) of litter at the same site. Litterbags set in forest soil were sequentially collected five times over the course of 18 months. During litter decomposition, microbial respiration from leaf and fine root litter differed among the six tree species. Temporal changes in the remaining mass and morphology (specific leaf area and specific root length) were observed, and the magnitude of these changes differed among species. Positive correlations were observed between respiration and mass loss or morphology across species. These results revealed that litter mass loss and morphological dynamics during decomposition jointly enhanced microbial respiration, and these carbon-based litter traits explained species differences in decomposition of leaves and fine roots. In conclusion, tree species influenced the magnitude and direction of microbial respiration during leaf/fine root litter decomposition. Tree species also affected the relationship between microbial respiration and litter decomposition through direct effects of litter traits and indirect effects mediated by regulation of heterotroph requirements.     

The effect of temperature on decomposition of leaf litter from two tropical forests by a microcosm experiment

A 120 days’ incubation experiment was conducted to analyze the effect of temperature on the decomposition of leaf litter (Altingia obovata) in two tropical primary montane rainforests with different precipitation conditions. The results showed no difference in mass loss of leaf litter between the two forests at 20 °C, in spite that Jianfengling forest had less precipitation than Diaoluoshan forest. But higher mass loss of leaf litter was found from Jianfengling forest site (30.1%) than that from Diaoluoshan forest site (25.9%) at 30 °C at the end of incubation. Lignin exhibited higher mass loss from Jianfengling forest (29.9%) than from Diaoluoshan forest (23.3%) at 20 °C, but no difference between two forest sites at 30 °C. Total carbohydrates were decomposed faster by the decomposers from Diaoluoshan forest site (42.7%) than that from Jianfengling forest site (36.3%) at 20 °C, but 46.6% and 38.5% for Jianfengling and Diaoluoshan montane rainforests, respectively, at 30 °C. Temperature increase did not significantly lead to the difference in mass loss of leaf litter for the two forest sites. Temperature increase did not affect lignin loss for Diaoluoshan forest, but reduced lignin loss for Jianfengling forest. Temperature increase accelerated the decomposition of carbohydrate for Jianfengling forest, but opposite for Diaoluoshan forest. The response of decomposition of leaf litter to forest type and temperature was positively related to the difference in microbial activities between both montane rainforests.     

Chemical composition and diversity influence non-additive effects of litter mixtures on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling: Implications for plant species loss

Diverse plant litter mixtures frequently decompose differently than expected compared to the average of the component species decomposing alone, and it remains unclear why decomposition may respond non-additively to diversity. Here, we hypothesized that litter chemical composition and chemical diversity would be important determinants of the strength and direction (synergistic versus antagonistic) of non-additive soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling responses to litter mixtures. To test this, we performed a soil incubation experiment using litter mixtures comprised of up to four plant species, and we measured three components of decomposition: respiration, net N mineralization, and microbial biomass N accumulation. We used nine chemical traits to calculate the chemical composition and diversity of the litter mixtures. First, we found that respiration responded as the average of the individual species in the mixture (i.e. additively), rather than non-additively as initially predicted. Second, litter mixtures stimulated significantly more net N immobilization than expected in 64% of cases, and non-additive responses were highly dependent on mixture chemical composition, and were influenced to a lesser degree by chemical diversity. Specifically, concentrations of tannins and certain low molecular weight phenolics in the mixtures were positively correlated with greater N immobilization than expected. Non-additive N mineralization responses were poorly correlated with traditional measures of litter chemistry like N concentration, C:N, lignin:N, and phenolic:N. Our results also show that non-additive N mineralization responses were affected by loss of some species significantly more than others, and the effects of species loss could depend on 1) whether a species contains compounds with strong effects on non-additive responses; and 2) whether those compounds are also found in other species. Finally, litter mixtures stimulated more microbial biomass N than expected in 45% of cases, but non-additive responses were only weakly dependent on the litter chemistry variables that we measured.     

Mass loss measurements and statistical models to predict decomposition of leaf litter in a boreal aspen forest

Abstract

In a southern boreal aspen forest located in Saskatchewan, Canada, we examined decomposition rates of leaf litter from trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), hazel (Corylus cornuta March.), and a mixture of different species over a six‐month period. Mass loss was measured in the field using the litter bag method. The greatest mass losses occurred during the first month regardless of litter type. On average, mass loss during the first 28 days was 3.2 g#lbkg^‐1#lbd^‐1 for the aspen leaves, 4.4 for hazel leaves and 4.9 for the mixture. The initial rapid loss of weight is attributed to leaching and decomposition of water soluble material. The decomposition rates of the leaf litter were related to water‐soluble organic carbon and nitrogen content, and C:N ratio. Several models were used to describe mass loss of the aspen, hazel, and mixed leaf litter at the early stages of decomposition. A single model was not found to be appropriate to describe decomposition of all leaf‐litter types. A second order model provided the best fit for the aspen litter decomposition, while the logarithmic model best described the decomposition of hazel and mixed leaf litter.     

Lack of home-field advantage in the decomposition of leaf litter in the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil

Experiments using litter monocultures have indicated that litter decomposes faster on its home site owing to specialised decomposers leading to a home-field advantage (HFA). However, most natural forests, in particular tropical rainforests, harbour more than one species of trees, all of which contribute to the local litter layer. Since interactions among different litter types that cause non-additive decomposition dynamics may prevent HFA, the occurrence of HFA in such multispecies ecosystems is still a matter of debate. Here we studied whether there is an HFA in a highly diverse forest ecosystem in the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil. We used a litter decomposition experiment using natural litter mixtures with reciprocal transfers among three forest successional stages that differed in their tree species composition and general litter quality. We also investigated the role of soil macro- and meso-invertebrates for HFA and their relative importance along a successional gradient. Results of various statistical procedures failed to demonstrate HFA. A reason for this lack of a HFA may be rapid shifts in the composition of local microbial communities in response to local litter quality. Our experiments indicate a rapid resilience of the microbial decomposition during forest regeneration.     

Changes in the fauna and its contribution to mass loss and N release during leaf litter decomposition in two deciduous forests

Investigations on the mass loss of leaf litter were carried out between 1992 and 1994 using litter bags of 0.02 mm and 5 mm mesh sizes in a beech and a mixed forest in northern Germany. The two forests on moder humus differed in soil faunal composition, vegetation type, and nutrient supply. Mass loss and N and C concentrations were determined from the litter at bimonthly intervals. From subsamples macrofauna were sorted by hand and mesofauna was extracted by heat. The biomass and N content of the litter bag fauna was estimated. Mass loss, particularly that attributed to the fauna, was different between the two sites with highest rates in the mixed forest and lowest at the beech site. A significantly higher rate of N release was found for the litter extracted from 5 mm mesh size litter bags in the mixed forest but not in the beech forest. Collembola and Cryptostigmata changed in numbers during litter breakdown. Collembola reached high numbers in the beginning, whereas Cryptostigmata dominated later. The diversity of Cryptostigmata increased at both sites during litter breakdown, whereas collembolan diversity only increased in the beech forest and remained at the same level in the mixed forest. Several species of Collembola and Cryptostigmata occurred earlier in the mixed forest than in the beech forest. Mass loss rate attributable to the fauna did not correspond to total faunal biomass. Only Isopoda, Diplopoda and Cryptostigmata appeared to affect the mass loss positively, whereas the biomass of Lumbricidae was negatively correlated with mass loss, particularly in the beech forest. On the other hand, the release of N attributable to the fauna was positively correlated with the total faunal biomass in the beech forest and Lumbricidae in particular were positively correlated with N-release at both sites.     

Plant species richness leaves a legacy of enhanced root litter-induced decomposition in soil

Increasing plant species richness generally enhances plant biomass production, which may enhance accumulation of carbon (C) in soil. However, the net change in soil C also depends on the effect of plant diversity on C loss through decomposition of organic matter. Plant diversity can affect organic matter decomposition via changes in litter species diversity and composition, and via alteration of abiotic and/or biotic attributes of the soil (soil legacy effect). Previous studies examined the two effects on decomposition rates separately, and do therefore not elucidate the relative importance of the two effects, and their potential interaction. Here we separated the effects of litter mixing and litter identity from the soil legacy effect by conducting a factorial laboratory experiment where two fresh single root litters and their mixture were mixed with soils previously cultivated with single plant species or mixtures of two or four species. We found no evidence for litter-mixing effects. In contrast, root litter-induced CO₂ production was greater in soils from high diversity plots than in soils from monocultures, regardless of the type of root litter added. Soil microbial PLFA biomass and composition at the onset of the experiment was unaffected by plant species richness, whereas soil potential nitrogen (N) mineralization rate increased with plant species richness. Our results indicate that the soil legacy effect may be explained by changes in soil N availability. There was no effect of plant species richness on decomposition of a recalcitrant substrate (compost). This suggests that the soil legacy effect predominantly acted on the decomposition of labile organic matter. We thus demonstrated that plant species richness enhances root litter-induced soil respiration via a soil legacy effect but not via a litter-mixing effect. This implies that the positive impacts of species richness on soil C sequestration may be weakened by accelerated organic matter decomposition.     

Site of leaf origin affects how mixed litter decomposes

Recent studies have demonstrated that mass loss, nutrient dynamics, and decomposer associations in leaf litter from a given plant species can differ when leaves of that species decay alone compared to when they decay mixed with other species’ leaves. Results of litter-mix experiments have been variable, however, making predictions of decomposition in mixtures difficult. It is not known, for example, whether interactions among litter types in litter mixes are similar across sites, even for litter mixtures containing the same plant species. To address this issue, we used reciprocal transplants of litter in compartmentalized litterbags to study decomposition of equal-mass litter mixtures of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marshall) and red oak (Quercus rubra L.) at four forest sites in northwestern Connecticut. These species differ significantly in litter quality. Red oak always has higher lignin concentrations than maple, and here C:N is lower in oak leaves and litter, a pattern often observed when oak coexists with maple. Overall, we observed less mass loss and lower N accumulation in sugar maple and red oak litter mixtures than we predicted from observed dynamics in single-species litterbags. Whether these differences were significant or not depended on the site of origin of the leaves (P<0.02), but there was no significant interaction between sites of decay and the differences in observed and predicted decomposition (P>0.2) . Mixing of leaf litter types could have significant impacts on nutrient cycling in forests, but the extent of the impacts can vary among sites and depends on the origin of mixed leaves even when the species composition of mixes is constant.     

Nonadditive effects of litter mixtures on decomposition and correlation with initial litter N and P concentrations in grassland plant species of northern China

We studied the occurrence of nonadditive effects of litter mixtures on the decomposition (the deviation of decomposition rate of litter mixtures from the expected values based on the arithmetic means of individual litter types) of litters from three plant species (i.e., Stipa krylovii Roshev., Artemisia frigida Willd., and Allium bidentatum Fisch. ex Prokh. & Ikonn.-Gal.) endemic to the grassland ecosystems of Inner Mongolia, northern China and the possible role of initial litter N and P on such effects. We mixed litters of the same plant species that differed in N and P concentrations (four gradients for each species) in litterbags and measured mass losses of these paired mixtures after 30 and 80 days under field conditions. We found the occurrence of positive, nonadditive effects of litter mixtures and showed that the magnitude of the nonadditive effects were related to the relative difference in the initial litter N and P concentrations of the paired litters.     

Influence of local illumination and plant composition on the spatial and seasonal distribution of litter-dwelling arthropods in a tropical rainforest

Using pitfall traps, we evaluated the spatial and seasonal variance in arthropod abundance, species richness, higher taxonomic and species composition, and guild structure within the ground litter of seven sites in a relatively undisturbed rainforest in Panama. We examined each of these five arthropod-dependent variables at two spatial scales (a few meters and a few hundred meters) and one temporal scale (a few months encompassing dry and wet periods), against environmental variables including local illumination and plant composition. Trap catches (9458 arthropods collected during 630 trap-days) were high compared to similar studies in temperate forests. We observed spatial and seasonal differences in abundance, species richness and composition of litter-dwelling arthropods. Often these differences appeared weakly related to geographical coordinates. They reflected forest structure (basal area) and local plant composition, and less so illumination patterns or seasonal changes in radiation. Seasonal variance was high and may relate to surrogate variables accounting for seasonal changes in litter moisture. The composition of higher taxa and species was often predicted by different independent variables at the three scales studied. Guild structure was difficult to predict. Our study lead us to expect that litter-dwelling arthropods may be more seasonal than soil microarthropods in tropical rainforests; and that tropical litter-dwelling arthropods may also be more spatially variable and seasonal than their temperate counterparts. We also recommend that conservation studies using pitfall traps in tropical rainforests should focus on: (1) taxonomic resolution to understand the functional complexity of soil organisms; (2) spatial replication to address subtle changes in plant composition throughout the study area; and (3) seasonal replicates to be commensurate with seasonal changes in litter moisture.