Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Effects of moose browsing on decomposition rates of birch leaf litter in a subarctic stream
Author
Irons, J. G., III, J. P. Bryant, M. W. Oswood
Publication Year
1969
Body

The effects of moose (Alces alces) browsing on nitrogen concentrations and decomposition rates of paper birch (Betula resinifera) leaf litter were measured in a subarctic headwater stream near Fairbanks, Alaska (65° N, 146° W). Senescent leaf samples were collected from moose browsed and unbrowsed paper birch trees. Three grams of leaves were placed in 25 packs in mesh bags in the stream. Approximately every two weeks for almost 11 weeks, five packs were taken out for analysis, which included decomposition rates and condensed tannin and nitrogen concentrations.

Language
en
Keywords
herbivory
aquatic food webs
browse chemistry
invertebrate utilization
tannin levels
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