@misc{Szanser_Maciej_Effect_2000,
 author={Szanser, Maciej},
 editor={Polish Academy of Sciences. Institute of Ecology},
 copyright={Creative Commons Attribution BY 3.0 PL license},
 address={Dziekanów Leśny},
 howpublished={online},
 year={2000},
 language={eng},
 abstract={The rate of grass decomposition was analysed in three field experiments (I, II and Ill) in mesocosms where patrolling of area by large epigean invertebrates was unlimited (O – open) or restricted (C – closed). The mesocosm contained soil cores (100 cm2, 15 cm deep) or were filied with poor substrate (sand with clay) and placed in a meadow soil profile. In Experiment III an additional treatment was applied, i.e. litter manuring with insect faeces (of cockchafer larvae Osmoderma eremita (Scarabeidae) and of locust Locusta migratoria (Oeolipodidae). The last treatment aimed at determining the effect of macrofauna faeces on litter decomposition rate. To exclude influence of roots' ingrowth into the substrate on the rate of litter decay the mesocosms with restricted ingrowth were applied. The litter exposed on the soil surface decayed faster than when exposed on sand. Patrolling of the area by large soil invertebrates had no effect on the Iitter decay rate during the first 8-13 months from the exposure (Exp. I and II). In the experiment where litter remained longer in the field, i.e. 24 months (Exp. III), in 13-months after grass exposure it was found that the amount of remaining matter was significantly higher and the daily decay rate was lower in the closed mesocosms than in the open ones. These differences were maintained in the second year up to the end of the experiment. Litter manuring with insects' faeces accelerated decomposition. The effect of manuring with insects' faeces was clear only in the treatment without roots' ingrowth into the substrate.},
 title={Effect of macroarthropods patrolling soil surface on decomposition rate of grass litter (Dactylis glomerata) in a field experiment},
 type={Text},
 URL={http://www.rcin.org.pl/Content/113462/PDF/WA058_91210_P2840-T48_Eko-Pol-A-Nr-4.pdf},
 volume={48},
 number={4},
 journal={Polish Journal of Ecology},
 publisher={Polish Academy of Sciences. Institute of Ecology. Publishing Office},
 keywords={decomposition, insects' faeces, macroarthropods, grass litter},
}