In this dataset are included values of mass loss, microbial biomass, basal respiration, metabolic quotient, and the slope of microbial growth after glucose addition, as well as the abundance of microarthropods (Acari and Collembola) of a litter mixture experiment in a tropical montane rainforest Ecosystem. In the experiment leaves of six native tree species (Cecropia andina, Dictyocaryum lamarckianum, Myrcia pubescens, Cavendishia zamorensis, Graffenrieda emarginata, and Clusia spp.) were used to fill litterbags and were incubated in monocultures and all possible two and four species combinations in the field for 6 and 12 months.

Abbreviations

P: Dictyocaryum lamarckianum 

G: Graffenrieda emarginata

A: Cecropia andina 

C: Clusia spp.

V: Cavendishia zamorensis

M: Myrcia pubescens

ab: abundance

Mloss: mass loss (% from the initial)

BR: Basal respiration (μl O₂ g^-1 dry weight h^-1)

Cmic: microbial biomass (mg g^-1 dry weight)

qO2: metabolic quotient (μl O₂ mg⁻¹ Cmic h⁻¹)

C: Total carbon (%)

N: Total nitrogen (%)