A Critique of the Analytical Methods Used in Examining Decomposition Data Obtained From Litter Bags
R. Kelman Wider,Gerald E. Lang +1 more
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Two general analytical approaches to the examination of decomposition data are reviewed and single and double exponential models best describe the loss of mass over time with an element of biological realism.Abstract:
The study of plant litter decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems commonly employs litter bags to compare the loss of mass among species, among sites, and under various experimental manipulations, or to investigate the process itself. Analysis of the resulting data is quite variable among investigators, and at times inappropriate. Two general analytical approaches to the examination of decomposition data are reviewed. Analysis of variance is useful if the intent is to compare treatment means, but does not directly test hypotheses regarding decomposition rates. If the intent is to determine rate constants, than fitting mathematical models to data is the more appropriate analysis. Single and double exponential models best describe the loss of mass over time with an element of biological realism. See full-text article at JSTORread more
Citations
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References
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Book
Applied Regression Analysis
Norman R. Draper,Harry Smith +1 more
TL;DR: In this article, the Straight Line Case is used to fit a straight line by least squares, and the Durbin-Watson Test is used for checking the straight line fit.
Journal ArticleDOI
Energy Storage and the Balance of Producers and Decomposers in Ecological Systems
TL;DR: Birch, L. C. Kollros, C. Boggild, O., and J. Keiding as discussed by the authors The linkage map of the house fly, Musca domestic L.
Journal ArticleDOI
Nitrogen and Lignin Control of Hardwood Leaf Litter Decomposition Dynamics
TL;DR: The effects of initial nitrogen and lignin contents of six species of hardwood leaves on their decomposition dynamics were studied at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest by inverse linear relationships between the percentage of original mass remaining and the nitrogen concentration in the residual material.
Journal ArticleDOI
Some Theorems on Quadratic Forms Applied in the Study of Analysis of Variance Problems, I. Effect of Inequality of Variance in the One-Way Classification
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of departures from assumptions, other than normality, on the null-distribution of the $F$-statistic in the analysis of variance is discussed.
Journal ArticleDOI
Macroclimate and Lignin Control of Litter Decomposition Rates
TL;DR: At the scale of subpolar to warm-temperate climates, the climate as indicated by AET is several orders of magnitude more important as a predictor of decay rate than is litter quality.