Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.3ffbg79zz

Description of the data and file structure

To investigate the dynamics of nutrient transfer in fine litter, we assessed the forest floor standing mass, input rates, and turnover rates of litter derived from terrestrially rooted material in a neotropical cloud forest in Monteverde, Costa Rica, and compared them to litter dynamics in other tropical cloud forests. The mean standing crop of fine litter was 10.1 t ha ^-1, and showed no striking seasonal differences but apparent annual differences. Input of fine litter was 7.0 t ha ^-1 y ^-1 and showed a strong seasonal pattern, with the greatest amounts of fine litter falling during the dry season. Nutrient input from fine litter was (kg ha ^-1 y ^-1): N, 93; P, 6; Ca, 115; Mg, 15; and K, 12. Assuming a steady state condition in this old-growth forest, fine litter had an annual decay rate (K_a) of 0.69 and a turnover time (1/K_a) of 1.4 years. About 25 percent of N and 42 percent of P were retranslocated from foliage prior to abscission. Litter nutrient fluxes were high, and nutrient use efficiency was low compared to other tropical montane forests, indicating that N and P may not be as limiting in this forest as in other montane forests.

Primary_standing_crop_biomass_and_both_terrestrial_litterfall_and_standing_crop_composition.csv

Biomass measures (grams per square meter) and composition (percentage leaves, sticks, moss, and miscellaneous) are provided for the terrestrial-derived standing crop. For terrestrial-derived standing crop composition measurements, es reproductive tissues were minimal (listed as “null”) and when present, included under miscellaneous. Additionally, composition (including separate values for reproductive tissues) is provided for terrestrial leaflitter. Biomass data is not available for terrestrial litterfall and is listed as “null”. Sampling dates range from May 26th 1987 through March 6th 1990, and span all three local seasons (Dry, Wet, and Misty), totaling 163 observations. The standing crop data in the original paper spanned through the end of July 1990; however, the last two years of data were not available for archival. The last standing crop measure provided is from December 1988.

Primary_standing_crop_and_terrestrial_litterfall_nutrients_by_component.csv

Nutrient concentrations (mg per g) of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium are provided for each component (Leaves, Sticks, Moss, and Miscellaneous) of the terrestrial-derived standing crop and litterfall. Reproductive components are also included for litterfall measures. Sampling dates range from June 20th 1987, through September 19th 1998, and span both the Dry and Wet seasons for standing crop measures, and all three seasons for litterfall, totaling 111 observations.

Primary_Terrestrial_litterfall_biomass_nutrients.csv

Fine litterfall was collected in 23 ground buckets over multiple sampling intervals ranging from 5 to 31 days. The biomass of the leaflitter was measured for each interval and standardized to values of grams per square meter per day, week, and year. Utilizing the mean nutrient values and composition for litterfall in the above datasets, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium values were calculated for each sample. Nutrient measures are provided for each sample, both as a percentage and as grams per square meter per day, week, and year. Finally, to compare to other studies nutrient are provided in kg per hectare per year. Sampling dates range from June 20th 1987, through September 30th 1991, and span all three local seasons (Dry, Wet, and Misty), totaling 1,796 observations. Information on specific Ground_bucket_ID is not available before Sept. 20th, 1988, and these values are listed as “null’.

Nutrient_content_of_live_foliage_and_terrestrial_litterfall.csv

Samples were analyzed for five macronutrients (K, P, N, Na, Ca) and one micronutrient (Al). Macronutrients are expressed in mean percent of total leaf dry weight, while micronutrients are expressed in parts per million (ppm). Live foliage and corresponding litterfall were sampled from three individual trees across four tree species (12 trees total) monthly for 24 months, across three seasons (dry, wet, and misty), for a total of 180 observations. Four monthly samplings resulted in no nutrient measures. Sodium was not assessed in the last two months, and other nutrient measures were occasionally unmeasurable throughout the study—all of these are reported as “null” values.

Primary_epiphytic_standing_crop_and_litterfall_composition.csv

Biomass measures (grams per square meter) and composition (percentage dead organic matter, bryophytes, and vascular plants) are provided for the epiphytic-derived standing crop and litterfall. One sample turned 0.00 g of litterfall, and thus, composition values are reported as “null”. 21 litterfall traps with unique IDs (Sample ID) were sampled from Sept. 21st, 198,8 through Aug. 5th 1991, spanning all three local seasons (Dry, Wet, and Misty), totaling 620 observations. the  As standing crop was not assessed via litterfall traps standing crop IDs are reported as “null”. Standing crop was measured on July 1st 1991 (15 observations).

Primary_epiphytic_standing_crop_nutrients_by_component.csv

Nutrient concentrations (g per square meter) of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calciu,m and molybdenum are provided for each component (Dead organic matter, Bryophytes, and Vascular plants) of the epiphyte-derived standing crop. Sampling occurred on two dates (July 29th 1988, and June 6th 1989) during the wet season. Values are provided for each component per date for a total of 6 observations.

Primary_epiphytic_litterfall_biomass.csv

Fine litterfall was collected in 21 litterfall traps over 87 sampling intervals ranging from 9 to 30 days. The length of the 4th  sampling interval is not known and recorded as “null”. Specific litterfall trap ID was not available before March 31st 1988, and is reported as “null” for these observations. The biomass of the leaflitter was measured for each interval and standardized to values of grams per square meter per day, week, and year. Sampling dates range from Dec 20th1987 through August 5th 1991, and span all three local seasons (Dry, Wet, and Misty), totaling 1,769 observations. Nutrient estimates per sampling were not readily calculable, as they were for the terrestrial litterfall data.