Detrital microbial activity

Wilson et al., 1986). The source of detritus will clearly affect the period of refractory decay. For example, the refractory phase of phytodetritus may last for only a few weeks compared to vascular plant detritus which may last for months to years (Valiela, 1995 Opsahl and Benner, 1999). Finally, temperature and size of the decomposing detrital particles also represent parameters affecting decay rate. Early work by Hodson et al. (1983) showed that lignocellulose remineralization rates were enhanced with decreasing particle size due to the higher relative abundance of microbes with an increasing surface-to-volume ratio. To no surprise, litter bag experiments indicate that increases in temperature also increase decay rates due to enhanced microbial activity (Wilson et al., 1986). 

Fell, J. W., Cefalu, R. C., Master, I. M., and Tallman, A. S. (1975) Microbial activities in the mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) detrital system. In Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Biology and Management of Mangroves (Walsh, G.E., Snedaker, S.C., and Teas, H.J., eds.), pp. 661-679, University Press, University of Florida, Gainesville. 

In wetland soils, organic matter decomposition is frequently limited by electron acceptor availability, rather than carbon availability as in upland ecosystems. The concentration and type of electron acceptors available in soils determine the types of microbial communities involved and the rate of decomposition process. Much of the detrital matter produced in wetlands is deposited on the soil surface. It is unlikely that there is enough oxygen in this matrix to decompose this material. Therefore, the decomposition of detrital matter is also dependent on the activity of anaerobic microorganisms using alternate electron acceptors. Similarly, the rate of organic matter decomposition in soils is dependent on the availability of electron acceptors (see for discussion in Chapters 3 and 4). 

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