Plant litter decomposition under the effect of photodegradation in an Brazilian atlantic montane forest ecosystem on the North Coast of São Paulo

Abstract

The plant litter decomposition is one of the key factors associated with the functioning of ecosystems, because it is intrinsically related to nutrient cycling and biogeochemical cycles that affect the climate, the dynamics of the organic content of the soil and other processes essential for maintenance plant community in the terrestrial environment. The decomposition in a tropical ecosystems is a complex process that can be influenced by a number of environmental factors can be different compared to arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Currently the study of abiotic factors such as solar radiation on decomposition in forest ecosystems has been poorly studied. The Atlantic Rainforest extends along the Brazilian coast with different altitudinal gradients. The Serra do Mar State Park, State of São Paulo (PESM), Santa Virginia nucleus, covers an area of montane forest, part of the Atlantic Rainforest biome, being considered one hotpost biodiversity area. Thus, this study aims to determine the effect of solar radiation (UV-B) on plant litter decomposition in montane forest in the coast of the state of São Paulo, through experiments of decomposition, using the technique of litter bags. (AU)