Litter quality is in the eye of the beholder: initial decomposition rates as a function of inoculum characteristics.

Title: Litter quality is in the eye of the beholder: initial decomposition rates as a function of inoculum characteristics.

Author: Strickland, Michael S.; Osburn, Ernest; Lauber, Christian ; Fierer, Noah; Bradford, Mark A.

Date: 2009

Source: Functional Ecology doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01515.x

Description:

1. The chemical composition of plant litter is commonly considered to indicate its quality as a resource for decomposer organisms. Litter quality, defined in this way, has been shown to be a major determinant of litter decomposition rates both within and across terrestrial ecosystems. Notably, the structure of the microbial community that is directly responsible for primary decomposition is rarely considered as an empirical predictor of litter decay rates.

Keywords: bacteria carbon mineralization fungi resource history soil properties

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Citation

Strickland, Michael S.; Osburn, Ernest; Lauber, Christian ; Fierer, Noah; Bradford, Mark A. 2009. Litter quality is in the eye of the beholder: initial decomposition rates as a function of inoculum characteristics.. Functional Ecology doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01515.x.

Southern Research Station

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