Seasonality of Litter Invertebrate Populations in an Australian Upland Tropical Rain Forest

Abstract

Monthly samples, taken over 19 months, examined the composition, density, and seasonality of invertebrate litter faunas in an upland tropical rain forest. Arthropods represented 96.0 percent of the total sample number. Numbers of invertebrates increased with an increase in precipitation and there were significantly more individuals in samples during the wetter months. Numbers declined when litter became dry and/or sparse or oversaturated. Fluctuations in invertebrate litter populations appeared to relate to rainfall, litter moisture content, leaf fall, and rates of decomposition. Comparisons were made with similar studies carried out elsewhere in tropical rain forests. The present investigation is part of a study of the breeding and foraging ecology seasonality of Australian upland tropical forest birds. THIS STUDY REPRESENTS some of the first available data on tropical rain forest litter invertebrates in