Summary
Feeding by the isopod, Oniscus asellus, produced changes in the sulfur constituents of leaf litter substrates (Acer negundo, A. saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Picea rubens, and Tsuga canadensis). Isopod consumption of leaf litter generally accelerated the mineralization of carbon-bonded S and increased the formation of ester sulfate in all substrates. After the isopod egestion of A. negundo leaves, fecal decomposition over 6 weeks increased total S concentration from 68 to 120 μmol S/g due to the catabolism of organic carbon. During the same period sulfate decreased from 34 to 20 μmol S/g and carbon-bonded S increased from 34 to 100 μmol S/g. Thus the total S pool in aged feces became enriched with organic S (83% of total S). Macroinvertebrate consumption accelerated the transformation of S constituents and the carbon-bonded S concentration approached that of the Oa organic horizon of a northern hardwood forest.
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Dedicated to the late Prof. Dr. M.S. Ghilarov
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Morgan, C.R., Mitchell, M.J. The effects of feeding by Oniscus asellus on leaf litter sulfur constituents. Biol Fert Soils 3, 107–111 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00260589
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00260589