1. Comparing Leaf Litter Quantities Among Plant Communities By Barney, Rachael, Crystal, Cam, Puja, Nate Atlantic Forest, Brazil SEE-U 2000

2. Introduction Leaf litter production and decomposition is an important biotic process affecting forest community composition Leaf litter production and decomposition sustain the forest community through nutrient cycling The Plant community, and types of fungi and invertebrate decomposers affect the quantity of leaf litter present

3. Methodology Leaf litter quantities found at a primary forest site and at a study area plantation of an exotic Pinus species within Morro do Diabo Park were measured A 50m transect was laid at each site Two samples of a.25m 2 of leaf litter were taken and weighed at 10m increment Leaf litter samples were sifted and invertebrates present were counted and separated into morphospecies

4. Hypothesis Null hypothesis: Leaf litter quantity found is independent of the type of forest community structure present Alternative Hypothesis: Leaf litter quantity found is influenced by the forest community structure present

5. Site 1

6. Site 2

7. Searching for Decomposition

8. Decomposition in Action: White Rot Fungus

9. Results:Leaf litter quantity A t-test(two sample assuming variance) was performed comparing the data from site #1 (primary forest) and site #2 (plantation) Site #1 Leaf litter quantity: mean of 242.5 ± 4484.7 g 4484.7 Site #2 Leaf litter quantity: mean of 908.7 ± 121760

10. Results: Quantity of Fungi and Invertabrate Decomposers The most predominant invertebrate decomposer was found to be beetles at both sites There was a larger presence of fungi at site #2 in the pine plantation than at site #1

11. Conclusions The alternative hypothesis was accepted: Leaf litter quantity found is influenced by type of forest community structure present Sampling methods utilized comparing fungi and invertebrate communities between sample sites were cursory and as a result ineffective