The influence of elevated nitrate concentration on rate of leaf decomposition in a stream. Meyer, J. Freshwater Biology, 1983.
The influence of elevated nitrate concentration on rate of leaf decomposition in a stream. [pdf]Paper  abstract   bibtex   
Leaf decomposition was compared in two Coweeta streams, one draining an undisturbed hardwood watershed (18) and one draining a successional watershed (6) subject to an insect outbreak. The successional watershed had elevated nitrate concentrations in the streamwater. Both black locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia) and sweet birch (Betula lenta) leaf litter decomposed 2.8 times more rapidly in the stream with high nitrate concentrations. The more rapid decay rates appeared to be partly due to accelerated microbial processing in response to nitrate enrichment, because microbial biomass (as ATP) was higher in the nitrate-enriched stream. Nitrogen and phosphorus content of the litter at the same state of decay was the same in the two streams.

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