Abstracto
- Seasonal changes in rainfall might have an impact on the decomposition of mangrove leaf litter. This study analyzed the influence of weather conditions (season) on the decay rate, nitrogen, and phosphorus content as a decomposition indicator of leaf litter of Rhizophora racemosa. These measurements were taken at two sites in the Terraba–Sierpe National Wetland (TSNW) South Pacific, Costa Rica, in 2013. The dry and wet season decay constants were similar and fast (k = 0.012 day1 ). Decay constants were positively associated with salinity and water temperature (p < 0.10). Moreover, season had an effect on the leaf litter nitrogen (high in dry season) and phosphorus content (high in rainy season). The effect of decomposition time on nitrogen and phosphorus content varies between sites. Leaf litter from R. racemosa acts as a substrate that releases nutrients to the ecosystem, contributing to carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus budgets. The similar and fast decay constants among seasons is possibly because of the small difference in seasonal rainfall in TSNW, while seasonal variation in nitrogen and phosphorus is possibly a result of changes in microbial activity. This study highlights the need for an integral approach to research on nutrient cycling in mangrove forests because of its complex decay patterns.