Aridity indices predict organic matter decomposition and comminution processes at landscape scale

摘要

Microbial decomposition and invertebrate comminution of a particular organic substrate are largely regulated by temperature and water availability. Numerous metrics have been used to model decay processes at large regional-to-global scales. However, their use at smaller landscape scales might not be practical or feasible. Aridity, generally defined as the balance between long term annual precipitation (P) and potential evapotranspiration (PET), is a metric that synthesizes the major climatic drivers regulating ecosystem processes including the activity of microbes and invertebrates on the forest floor. Thus, aridity indices (Als) can theoretically represent suitable predictors of decomposition and comminution processes at landscape scale.