Spring semester 2025

Temporal dynamics of macroinvertebrates communities and decomposition rate in water-filled tree holes
Francesca Cerroti

Photographs of water-filled tree holes in a forest in Ticino, along with a schematic illustration of their communities (Pictures: © Max Fonseca, schematic illustration: © Francesca Cerroti)

Water-filled tree holes (WHs) offer a unique natural system for studying ecosystem functions like organic matter decomposition within a contained aquatic environment. These microhabitats, formed in decayed or hollowed sections of trees, collect rainwater and organic debris, creating miniature aquatic ecosystems that support forest biodiversity. Decomposer communities in WHs—primarily microbes, aquatic fungi, and macroinvertebrates—actively process leaf litter, but their activity may vary significantly with seasonal changes. Extreme events such as summer drying or winter freezing can halt or sharply reduce decomposition. The relatively contained nature of WHs makes them ideal for investigating seasonal decomposition variability in a simplified yet ecologically significant context. In this study, we examined the seasonal dynamics of decomposer communities and leaf litter decomposition in WHs within a temperate forest, focusing on how seasonal shifts in environmental conditions and biodiversity affect decomposition rates in these microhabitats.

___________________________________________________________________