Consumption and Decomposition of Lichen Litter in a Temperate Coniferous Rainforest

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Abstract
Nylon mesh litter–bags markedly reduced the rate of weight loss of lichen litter, as compared to unconfined (free) lichens, suggesting that herbivores and detritivores larger than the mesh size make a significant contribution to the disappearance of lichen litter. The half–life of free lichen litter was 1·5 months for Alectoria sarmentosa, 2·5 months for Hypogymnia inactiva, 3·5 months for Platismatia glauca, and 7 months for Lobaria oregana. The half–lives were 2·9 times longer for the same species in litter–bags. Because A. sarmentosa showed the greatest difference between free litter and litter–bags, we conclude that, of the four species studied, it had the highest rate of consumption by larger herbivores and detritivores.

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