Reduction in faunal diversity is suggested to reduce litter decomposition, whereas increases in ultraviolet (UV) radiation may directly enhance or indirectly retard litter decomposition. Here we examined the effect of soil arthropods and UV radiation on litter decomposition in burned and unburned plots during a 469-day field experiment in a subtropical pastureland of Puerto Rico. Prescribed burn reduced soil arthropod diversity and increased UV radiation during the initial period of 240 days following the burn, and consequently reduced plant litter decomposition. The density of predators was lower in the burned than in control treatment. UV radiation reduced total arthropod density and diversity by retarding the recolonization of soil arthropods in the burned plots with reduced abundance of predators after 344 days post-burn incubation. Prescribed burn slowed down plant litter decomposition through direct reduction in arthropod diversity immediately after fire and through increase in UV radiation that retards the recolonization of arthropods in later stages after the prescribed burn in the subtropical pastureland.

中文翻译：

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亚热带牧场规定燃烧后不同紫外线水平下的凋落物分解和节肢动物组成

建议减少动物群多样性以减少凋落物分解，而紫外线 (UV) 辐射的增加可能直接增强或间接延缓凋落物分解。在这里，我们在波多黎各亚热带牧场进行了为期 469 天的田间试验，研究了土壤节肢动物和紫外线辐射对燃烧和未燃烧地块中凋落物分解的影响。在燃烧后 240 天的初始阶段，规定的燃烧减少了土壤节肢动物的多样性并增加了紫外线辐射，从而减少了植物凋落物的分解。燃烧处理中捕食者的密度低于对照处理。紫外线辐射通过在燃烧后的 344 天孵化后减少了捕食者的丰度，从而延缓了土壤节肢动物在燃烧地块中的重新定殖，从而降低了总节肢动物的密度和多样性。