Abstract
The total litter production and its stock on the soil in the Maciço da Pedra Branca (RJ) were monitored for one year. The forest litter produced was 7,533 kg.ha-1.yr-1 and the litter layer was 7,300 kg.ha-1. In the former, the heavy metal concentration ranged from 0.08 mg.kg-1 for Cd to 35.2 mg.kg-1 for Zn. In the litter layer, the concentration was 1.3 times higher, on average. The renewal rates for the stock of these metals in the litter layer varied from 0.2 year for Cr to 1.9 years for Cd and Pb. The results found were higher than those found in similar studies, due to the proximity to the metropolis of Rio de Janeiro.
Key words:
litter fall; heavy metals; Maciço da Pedra Branca