the soil
While leaf litter does contain nutrients which can be used by plants, plants can't get to the nutrients until the leaves are composted. But when the leaves are composted, they are no longer leaves but are now soil!
Soil litter is made up of leaf "skin" and pieces of leaf that are usually at the top of the horizons of the soil. Often found in forests.
From the surface down these layers are known as Soil Horizons. The top one is called leaf-litter.
It eventually breaks down (decomposes) and returns nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen back into the soil. Prior to that, it makes wonderful habitat for small animals such as centipedes, certain types of worms, Spiders, some small mammals as well as microorganisms and fungi. Leaf litter is a wonderful indicator of ecological health as well as being a protector of the soil in the case of a wildfire (depending on the leaf litter's density).
By taking root and holding the dirt together. Also, by sheltering the topsoil from wind, heavy rain, and the impact of raindrops. Also, by drawing up groundwater to keep the topsoil moist and coherent. Also, by preventing rainwater from percolating through the soil to saline aquifers which would rise, salinising the soil and killing smaller plants with their roots &c. Also, by covering the soil with a protective layer of leaf litter. Also, by building up the soil with humus from decomposed leaf litter.
It depends on what the litter is. If it is totally free of synthetic chemicals and is biodegradable, it most likely will not hurt the soil and may help it. It is always best, though, to dispose of litter in the proper containers, use it in a compost pile if you know for sure it is chemical free, or recycle it.
Soil litter is made up of leaf "skin" and pieces of leaf that are usually at the top of the horizons of the soil. Often found in forests.
removing leaf litter from a dense forest
From the surface down these layers are known as Soil Horizons. The top one is called leaf-litter.
It eventually breaks down (decomposes) and returns nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen back into the soil. Prior to that, it makes wonderful habitat for small animals such as centipedes, certain types of worms, Spiders, some small mammals as well as microorganisms and fungi. Leaf litter is a wonderful indicator of ecological health as well as being a protector of the soil in the case of a wildfire (depending on the leaf litter's density).
sweep net
The Tullgren Funnel is an apparatus which helps to remove living organisms from leaf litter. Leaf litter is placed in a filter funnel which is covered with black paper. The funnel is then held over a bottle containing a mixture of alcohol and water. There is a piece of gauze present to prevent soil entering the liquid. Once the leaf litter has been placed in the funnel, the apparatus is put under a strong light for at least two weeks. The soil dries out slowly and this encourages the living organisms to move downwards.
by hiding under leaf litter, logs, rocks, loose soil, and in the depths of a water source they reside near
Some centipedes live in the sands of desert, while others live in the leaf litter of forest.
Millipedes find their food in leaf litter and soil. They eat decaying plant material.
By taking root and holding the dirt together. Also, by sheltering the topsoil from wind, heavy rain, and the impact of raindrops. Also, by drawing up groundwater to keep the topsoil moist and coherent. Also, by preventing rainwater from percolating through the soil to saline aquifers which would rise, salinising the soil and killing smaller plants with their roots &c. Also, by covering the soil with a protective layer of leaf litter. Also, by building up the soil with humus from decomposed leaf litter.
It depends on what the litter is. If it is totally free of synthetic chemicals and is biodegradable, it most likely will not hurt the soil and may help it. It is always best, though, to dispose of litter in the proper containers, use it in a compost pile if you know for sure it is chemical free, or recycle it.
You need to provide a similar substrate to that of their natural environment. In the wild, they spend most of their time buried in leaf litter, loose soil, or beneath rotting logs.