How temperature and moisture control the rate of litter decomposition across biomes
Leaf Litter Mass Remaining Over Time
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Biome Presets
Adjust temperature and moisture to see how decomposition rate changes.
Key Takeaways
🌡️ Temperature is the primary driver — decomposition roughly quadruples for every 10°C increase (Q₁₀ ≈ 4), which is why tropical litter disappears in months while tundra litter persists for decades.
💧 Moisture enables microbial activity — decomposers need water. Deserts decompose slowly despite high temperatures because microbial activity is water-limited.
🫧 Too much water slows decomposition — waterlogged soils become anaerobic, suppressing aerobic decomposers. This is why peat bogs preserve organic matter for thousands of years.
🌱 This explains soil carbon patterns — tropical forests have thin organic layers (fast decomposition > litter input), while boreal forests and peatlands accumulate deep organic soils (slow decomposition < litter input).