Snowmelt timing affects short‐term decomposition rates in an alpine snowbed

Alpine snowbed communities are characterized as having areas of longer lasting snow cover duration compared with the surrounding landscape. The predictable accumulation deep and long-lasting on lee side ridges drives a unique ecology, providing stable microclimatic conditions under through winter, supplying meltwater in spring, controlling many biological processes. timing rate plant litter decomposition key controls nutrient balance communities, thought to be strongly driven by dynamics. However, little is known about how patterns snowmelt affect decomposition, nor long these effects last into growing season. We investigated influence rates across an alpine community burying standardized (rooibos green tea), at three incubation times (whole year, winter+spring, summer), zones. Decomposition (as percent mass loss tea) was significantly higher early-melting zones late-melting zones, particularly for recalcitrant tea). also affected season(s) greatest where tea buried whole or only over summer, winter + spring incubations decomposing least. more influenced quality (type than either seasonality. These results provide further understanding changes may turn transform rare communities.