The role of soil fauna in litter decomposition in primary forests, secondary forests and a polyculture plantation in Amazonia - methodological considerations.

A comparative study of litter quantity and quality, decomposition rates, and the abundance, biomass, and respiration of soil-inhabiting microbes, arthropods and oligochaetes in a polyculture forestry plantation and in plots of nearby secondary and primary forests. The aim is to evaluate the specific contribution of the soil microflora and of the different function soil fauna groups to the decompostion of organic matter and the resulting nutrient supply to the plants. Several methods for the study of the soil fauna and microflora have been adapted to neotropical conditions on the base of preliminary tests