Fruit decomposition and removal in a subtropical forest biodiversity experiment

Tree species richness enhances diversity at higher trophic levels and can increase ecosystem functioning. It may also shape the communities of decomposers involved in fruit decomposition and, through this, affects rates of fruit decomposition. However, such effects may be obscured by other environmental drivers, including forest structure, topography, and interactions among decomposer. To investigate these relationships, we placed ~900 plums across 96 plots along a tree diversity gradient in the world’s largest forest biodiversity experiment (BEF-China) in subtropical China in autumn 2025. Fruits were exposed for four days, after which their removal and decomposition stages were assessed. While data analyses are ongoing, we hypothesize that fruit removal and decomposition rates will be higher in closed forests, on shallow slopes, and in plots of high tree species. Overall, this study aims to clarify how tree species richness and environmental factors jointly influence fruit removal and decomposition in a subtropical forest biodiversity experiment. By extending previous research on other forms of necromass (carrion, deadwood, litter), it contributes to a broader understanding of bottom-up effects of tree diversity on organic matter turnover.