Effects of fallen Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) on understory plant, invertebrate, and fungi communities

For nearly two years, natural deposition of Spanish moss was excluded from 2m x 2m plots positioned in the understory of a single live oak at each of two field sites. After 29 months, we measured the effects of fallen Spanish moss, relative to unmanipulated control plots that intercepted natural levels of fallen Spanish moss, on understory grass, invertebrate, and fungi communities as well as on litter layer depth, and litter decomposition rates using litter bags. This research was conducted in two fields on Sapelo Island, GA: Long Tabby (LT) and King's Field (KF). Experimental exclusions were maintained by manually removing Spanish moss from experimental plots monthly over the duration of the experiment.