Table S1.

List of species of leaf litter used in this study from temperate ecosystems of Argentina

Genus	Species	Family	Life form	Ecosystem of origin	Code
Araucaria	auracana	Araucariaceae	Tree	Temperate forest	AA
Bromus	pictus	Poaceae	Perennial grass	Semiarid steppe	BP
Carduus	acanthoides*	Asteraceae	Annual herb	Mesic grassland	CA
Chusquea	culeou	Poaceae	Perennial grass	Temperate forest	ChC
Dactylis	glomerata*	Poaceae	Annual grass	Mesic grassland	DG
Fraxinus	americana*	Oleaceae	Tree	Temperate forest	FA
Glycine	max*	Fabaceae	Annual herb	Agroecosystem	GM
Helianthus	annuus*	Asteraceae	Annual herb	Agroecosystem	HA
Lolium	multiflorum*	Poaceae	Annual grass	Mesic grassland	LM
Maytenus	boaria	Celastraceae	Tree	Temperate forest	MB
Mulinum	spinosum	Apiaceae	Shrub	Semiarid steppe	MS
Nothofagus	obliqua	Nothofagaceae	Tree	Temperate forest	NO
Nothofagus	dombeyi	Nothofagaceae	Tree	Temperate forest	ND
Nothofagus	nervosa	Nothofagaceae	Tree	Temperate forest	NN
Nothofagus	antarctica	Nothofagaceae	Tree	Temperate forest	NA
Paspalum	quadrifarium	Poaceae	Perennial grass	Mesic Grassland	PQ
Pinus	ponderosa*	Pinaceae	Tree	Temperate forest	PP
Poa	ligularis	Poaceae	Perennial grass	Semiarid steppe	PL
Populus	nigra*	Salicaceae	Tree	Temperate forest	PN
Schizachyrium	scoparium	Poaceae	Perennial grass	Mesic grassland	ScS
Stipa	speciosa	Poaceae	Perennial grass	Semiarid steppe	SS
Triticum	aestivum*	Poaceae	Annual grass	Agroecosystem	TA
Zea	mays*	Poaceae	Annual grass	Agroecosystem	ZM

Plant litter was collected from natural grassland and forest ecosystems as well as the four major agricultural species of Argentina. The final column is code for each species used in other tables and figures.

*Exotic species in ecosytem of origin.