Litter decomposition in quadrat treatments along elevation gradient for canopy herbivore input study at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory from 1997 to 1999

Decomposition is frequently measured using litter bags containing known amounts of litter. A set of litter bags can be sampled over time and the weight loss which is measured serves as an index of decomposition. By measuring litter breakdown rate (decomposition) of the same species of litter along the elevation gradient, we could measure variation among the different elevations due to our treatments and elevation effects. Treatments included frass additions, thrufall additions, greenfall exclusion, all litter excluded, and controls.