skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Leaf litter decomposition in three Adirondack lakes

Abstract

Decomposition of terrestrial leaf litter in three Adirondack lakes with water pH values approximately 5, 6, and 7 was studied. Litter bags containing leaves of American beech, sugar maple, red maple, leather leaf, and red spruce were placed in the lakes. Samples were removed periodically over a 3-year period and analyzed for loss in weight, changes in leaf surface area, carbon, nitrogen, and bacterial populations. The rate of decomposition of litter depended on the leaf species tested as well as on the lake water in which they were incubated. Of the five leaf species tested, red maple decomposed much faster and red spruce more slowly, i.e., red maple > sugar maple > beech > leather leaf > red spruce. Further, the data indicated that the rate of decomposition of the leaves differed among the lakes in the order Woods (pH approx. 5) < Sagamore (pH approx. 6) < Panther (pH approx. 7), and that the microbial colonization of some leaf species was affected. Accumulations of leaf litter in acid lakes due to reduction in microbial decomposition may affect nutrient recycling in lake ecosystems. 8 references, 4 tables.

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
5900059
Report Number(s):
BNL-33194; CONF-8304118-1
ON: DE83015593
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-76CH00016
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Lake George symposium, Lake George, NY, USA, 9 Apr 1983
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; LEAVES; BIODEGRADATION; BACTERIA; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; FOREST LITTER; LAKES; NEW YORK; PH VALUE; BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; DATA; DECOMPOSITION; FEDERAL REGION II; INFORMATION; MATERIALS; MICROORGANISMS; NORTH AMERICA; NUMERICAL DATA; SURFACE WATERS; USA; 520200* - Environment, Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Francis, A J, Quinby, H L, Hendrey, G R, and Hoogendyk, C G. Leaf litter decomposition in three Adirondack lakes. United States: N. p., 1983. Web.
Francis, A J, Quinby, H L, Hendrey, G R, & Hoogendyk, C G. Leaf litter decomposition in three Adirondack lakes. United States.
Francis, A J, Quinby, H L, Hendrey, G R, and Hoogendyk, C G. 1983. "Leaf litter decomposition in three Adirondack lakes". United States.
@article{osti_5900059,
title = {Leaf litter decomposition in three Adirondack lakes},
author = {Francis, A J and Quinby, H L and Hendrey, G R and Hoogendyk, C G},
abstractNote = {Decomposition of terrestrial leaf litter in three Adirondack lakes with water pH values approximately 5, 6, and 7 was studied. Litter bags containing leaves of American beech, sugar maple, red maple, leather leaf, and red spruce were placed in the lakes. Samples were removed periodically over a 3-year period and analyzed for loss in weight, changes in leaf surface area, carbon, nitrogen, and bacterial populations. The rate of decomposition of litter depended on the leaf species tested as well as on the lake water in which they were incubated. Of the five leaf species tested, red maple decomposed much faster and red spruce more slowly, i.e., red maple > sugar maple > beech > leather leaf > red spruce. Further, the data indicated that the rate of decomposition of the leaves differed among the lakes in the order Woods (pH approx. 5) < Sagamore (pH approx. 6) < Panther (pH approx. 7), and that the microbial colonization of some leaf species was affected. Accumulations of leaf litter in acid lakes due to reduction in microbial decomposition may affect nutrient recycling in lake ecosystems. 8 references, 4 tables.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5900059}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1983},
month = {Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1983}
}

Conference:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that hold this conference proceeding.

Save / Share: