Importance of leaf litter fragmentation for bacterial growth
Four fragment size groups of maple leaf litter (Acer platanoides) were leached with sterile water. The fragments and leachates were inoculated with bacteria isolated from maple leaf litter and bacterial activity and growth were determined. About 80-90% of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) released from the leaf fragments was released during the 1st day; the release was negatively correlated with