Microarthropods and microbial participation in oak and beech litter decomposition

The aim of our work was to describe the impact of a simulated vegetation zone shift to higher altitudes (i) on the quantity and quality of microarthropods and microbial communities, and (ii) on the decomposition rate of allochthonous leaf litter. In November 2002, 480 litterbags filled with oak or beech leaf litter were placed into spruce and beech forests (950 m a. s. l.) on Kleť Mt. (1083 m; Blanský les Protected Landscape Area, South Bohemia). Three different mesh sizes were used for certain soil biota exclusion: > 2 mm, 0.5 mm and 42 μm. Litterbags were sampled after 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months of exposure in the field. Litter pH and moisture were determined in the laboratory immediately after retrieval. Soil microarthropods (Oribatida, Gamasida and Collembola) were extracted using Tullgren funnels. Soil bacteria and micromycetes were isolated using the dilution plate method and specific growth media