Data from Zampini et al. 2026: Temperature accelerates decomposition and controls carbon use efficiency for microbes and shredding caddisflies

This dataset supports the analyses and figures presented in the article “Temperature accelerates decomposition and controls carbon use efficiency for microbes and shredding caddisflies” published in Ecosphere (Accepted 12/16/2025). Data include chamber-level decomposition and microbial biomass measurements from two mesocosm experiments, replicate decay rate constants, repeated-measures microbial respiration data, pooled microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE), and individual- and chamber-level caddisfly consumption, assimilation, and growth metrics. All files are organized by experiment and correspond directly to the results and supplemental material reported in the manuscript.

Authors:
Michael C. Zampini, Steven A. Thomas, Benjamin J. Koch, George W. Koch, Paul Dijkstra, Jane C. Marks

Journal:
Ecosphere (accepted 12/16/2025)

Description:
These data support a field-based artificial stream experiment examining how temperature regulates
carbon fluxes from leaf litter through microbes and shredding caddisflies. The datasets include
measurements of litter decomposition, leaching losses, microbial respiration and biomass,
microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE), caddisfly consumption, carbon assimilation, growth, and
multiple estimates of invertebrate CUE.

Files:

1. Decomposition_kvalue.csv
Contains litter decomposition rate coefficients (k) calculated from exponential decay models
for each leaf species, temperature treatment, and experimental replicate.

2. Arrhenius_Activation_Energy.csv
Contains activation energy (Ea) estimates derived from Arrhenius models for microbial-only
and invertebrate-inclusive decomposition pathways.

3. Leaching.csv
Dry mass and carbon loss due to leaching (DOC) measured after 48 h incubations for each leaf type
and temperature.

4. Microbial_Respiration.csv
Rates of CO2 production (mg C-CO2 g⁻¹ litter) measured from microbial litter packs across
temperature treatments and sampling dates.

5. Microbial_Biomass_Litter_Mass_Remaining.csv
Microbial biomass carbon and remaining litter mass measured on days 2, 30, and 55.

6. Microbial_CUE.csv
Microbial carbon use efficiency calculated as:
CUE = C biomass / (C biomass + C respired)

7. Caddisfly_Consumption.csv
Apparent litter carbon consumption by caddisflies calculated from differences between feeding
and fine-mesh treatments.

8. Caddisfly_Assimilation_Growth_Biomass.csv
Carbon assimilation from 13C tracing (mg C), net biomass growth (mg C), and total biomass carbon (mg C) for individual
caddisflies.

9. Caddisfly_CUE_assim_CUE_growth.csv
Caddisfly carbon use efficiency calculated using:
- Assimilation-based CUE = Assimilated C / Consumed C
- Growth-based CUE = Net growth C / Consumed C

10. Caddisfly_CUE_Trophic_.csv
Caddisfly CUE expressed as trophic efficiency: percentage of decomposed litter carbon assimilated
into invertebrate biomass.

Notes:
All units are reported in the data files. These datasets represent raw or minimally processed
experimental measurements and directly underlie all figures and tables in the manuscript.