Comparison of litterfall production in three forest types in Jeju Island, South Korea

Litterfall, which is influenced by physical and biological factors, is a major pathway for carbon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to investigate monthly litterfall production in three forests in Jeju Island differentiated by forest composition and precipitation: Cheongsu (Quercus glauca as the dominant species; low precipitation), Seonheulb (Q. glauca as the dominant species; high precipitation), and Seonheulm (Q. glauca and Pinus thunbergii as the dominant species; high precipitation). Litterfall was collected monthly from April to December 2015 and divided into leaf litter, twig, bark, seeds, and unidentified materials. Seasonal patterns of litterfall production varied across stands according to their species composition. However, the amount of leaf litterfall and total litterfall were comparable among stands, ranging from 362 to 375 g m−2 for leaf litter and 524 g m−2 to 580 g m−2 for total litterfall. Oak leaf litter in May was the highest in all stands, while needle litter was the highest in December in Seonheulm. High twig litterfall in July may be attributable to high rainfall with strong winds and storms during the rainy season. Although forest type and climate factor had no influence on litterfall amounts in this study, the pattern of litterfall production was species dependent, suggesting diverse effects on carbon and nutrient cycling in these forests.