ABSTRACT
In natural ecosystems, perennials shed some portion of their biomass each year. They naturally drop leaves, Žowers, and fruit or seeds and can lose twigs and whole branches in windstorms. This shed biomass, or litterfall, can be quite signicant in quantity (e.g., about 1 kg/m2/year in tropical forests) and plays an important role in recycling nutrients and biomass in natural systems, ensuring their long-term sustainability.
