Comparisons of Equations for Decay of Leaf Litter in Tree-Hole Ecosystems
- 1 June 1982
- Vol. 39 (1) , 17-22
- https://doi.org/10.2307/3544526
Abstract
Decay of autumn-shed leaves in tree-hole ecosystems is a food source for larvae of the mosquito Aedes triseriatus Say in northern Indiana, USA. Decay of coarse particulate detritus is significantly faster in the presence of larvae. Five equations for the loss of mass over time by decaying particulate matter were compared using detailed decay curves for leaf litter decomposing with and without A. triseriatus. In all cases, the composite exponential equation, which postulates the separation of detritus into labile and refractory portions that decay independently and exponentially, fits the data most closely. Detritus consists of 2 independent fractions, one rapidly decomposing and the other slowly decomposing.This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit:
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