Microclimate within litter bags of different mesh size: Implications for the 'arthropod effect' on litter decomposition

In conclusion, different mesh sizes can be used to reliably quantify the role of soil animals in litter mass loss from litter bags. The greater litter mass loss from litter bags with coarser mesh sizes is however caused by the soil animals both promoting litter decomposition and greater litter fragmentation (with the undecomposed fragments then being lost from the bags). Additional approaches are needed to determine the relative importance of these two effects of soil animals on litter mass loss from litter bags. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.