Methods to Study Litter Decomposition: A Practical Guide

Preface.
Part 1. Litter Dynamics. 1. Litter Input; A. Elosegi & J. Pozo. 2. Leaf Retention; A. Elosegi. 3. Manipulation of Stream Retentiveness; M. Dobson. 4. Coarse Benthic Organic Matter; J. Pozo & A. Elosegi. 5. Leaching; F. Bärlocher. 6. Leaf Mass Loss Estimated by Litter Bag Technique; F. Bärlocher. 7. Coarse Particulate Organic Matter Budgets; J. Pozo.
Part 2. Leaf Chemical and Physical Properties. 8. Determination of Total Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Leaf Litter; M.R. Flindt & A.I. Lillebø. 9. Total Protein; M.O. Bärlocher. 10. Free Amino Acids; S.D. Mansfield & M.O. Bärlocher. 11. Determination of Total Carbohydrates; S.D. Mansfield. 12. Determination of Soluble Carbohydrates; S.D. Mansfield & F. Bärlocher. 13.Total Lipids; M.O. Gessner & P.T.M. Neumann. 14. Total Phenolics; F. Bärlocher & M.A.S. Graça. 15. Radial Diffusion Assay for Tannins M.A.S. Graça & F. Bärlocher. 16. Acid Butanol Assay for Proanthocyanidins (Condensed Tannins); M.O. Gessner & D. Steiner. 17. Proximate Lignin and Cellulose; M.O. Gessner .18. Leaf Toughness; M.A.S. Graça & M. Zimmer.
Part 3. Microbial Decomposers. 19. Techniques for Handling Ingoldian Fungi; E. Descals. 20. Maintenance of Aquatic Hyphomycete Cultures; L. Marvanová. 21. An Illustrated Key to the Common Temperate Species of Aquatic Hyphomycetes; V. Gulis, L. Marvanová & E. Descals. 22. Molecular Approaches to Estimate Fungal Diversity.I. Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP); L.G. Nikolcheva & F. Bärlocher. 23. Molecular Approaches to Estimate Fungal Diversity. II. Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE); L.G. Nikolcheva & F. Bärlocher. 24. Sporulation of Aquatic Hyphomycetes; F. Bärlocher. 25. Ergosterol as a Measure of Fungal Biomass; M.O. Gessner. 26. Acetate Incorporation into Ergosterol to Determine Fungal Growth Rates and Production; K. Suberkropp & M.O.Gessner. 27. Bacterial Counts and Biomass Determination by Epifluorescence Microscopy; N. Buesing. 28. Secondary Production and Growth of Litter-Associated Bacteria; N. Buesing & M.O. Gessner. 29. Isolation of Cellulose-degrading Bacteria; J. Marxsen. 30. Extraction and Quantification of ATP as a Measure of Microbial Biomass; M. Abelho. 31. Respirometry; M.A.S. Graça & M. Abelho.
Part 4. Enzymatic Capabilities. 32. Extractellular Fungal Hydrolytic Enzyme Activity; S.D. Mansfield. 33. Cellulases; M. Zimmer. 34. Viscosimetric Determination of Endocellulase Activity; B. Hendel & J. Marxsen. 35. Fluorometric Determination of the Activity of b-Glucosidase and other Extracellular Hydrolytic Enzymes; B. Hendel & J. Marxsen. 36. Pectin-Degrading Enzymes: Polygalacturonase and Pectin Lyase; K. Suberkropp. 37. Lignin-Degrading Enzymes (Phenoloxidase and Peroxidase); B. Hendel, R.L. Sinsabaugh & J. Marxsen. 38. Phenol Oxidation; M. Zimmer. 39. Proteinase Activity: Azocoll and Thin-Layer Enzyme Assay; M.A.S. Graça & F. Bärlocher.
Part 5. Detritivorous Consumers. 40. Maintenance of Shredders in the Laboratory; F. Cobo. 41. Feeding Preferences of Shredders; C. Canhoto, M.A.S. Graça & F. Bärlocher.
Part 6. Data Analysis. 42. A Primer for Statistical Analysis; F. Bärlocher. 43. Biodiversity; F. Bärlocher.