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Soil Microbial Community Succession During Cadaver Decomposition, Kelly Lynn Cobaugh
Soil Microbial Community Succession During Cadaver Decomposition, Kelly Lynn Cobaugh
Masters Theses
Microbes play critical roles in nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. In particular, microbial decomposition of organic matter is a key step in carbon and nutrient cycling, linking above-ground and below-ground pools. It is well known that the microbial community changes in structure and function following the introduction of organic matter into a terrestrial system. The decomposition of plant litter has been extensively investigated but the decomposition of animal-derived organic matter has often been overlooked. The unique characteristics of animal input are hypothesized to dictate a distinct decomposition process. This study examined the microbial community responsible for decomposition of animal-derived organic …