@article {51537,
	title = {Litter decomposition in Chihuahuan Desert playa},
	journal = {The American Midland Naturalist},
	volume = {128},
	year = {1992},
	note = {//NMSU//LTER II//Listed in LTER3 proposal as citing LTER2 support//},
	month = {1992},
	pages = {84-94},
	abstract = {<p>Mass loss rates were compared for several types of litter in a flooded desert ephemeral playa. Most nonwoody types of organic matter, including black grama grass, creosotebush leaves and rabbit feces decomposed rapidly. Creosotebush twigs and wood decomposed slowly. About 25\% of the mass was lost due to abiotic leaching. Predator exclusion significantly increased decomposition of creosotebush leaves, but reduced mass loss rate of creosotebush twigs and black grama grass. Decomposition rates were within the range of those found in lakes, and much lower than rates typical of streams. Our data suggest that organisms have little effect on mass loss of debris transported into a desert playa.</p>
},
	keywords = {article, articles, decomposition,playa litter, journal, journals, litter, decomposition, playa,litter decomposition},
	doi = {10.2307/2426416 },
	url = {files/bibliography/JRN00159.pdf},
	author = {William P. MacKay and J. C. Zak and Walter G. Whitford}
}
