Question

What is the difference between a rotting log community and a leaf litter community?

Answer 1

The short answer is that a rotten log is a habitat that supports diverse plant and animal life, including various forms of fungi, spiders and other and insects. Leaf litter is similarly beneficial, but contains more "recyclers" like slugs, worms and microbes that break down the decaying material, providing nutrients and moisture for the soil and nourishing plant life.

Here is an article on how leaf litter benefits the environment: http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/614741/Leaf-Litter-Is-an-Environmental-Windfall.html