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2004

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The Control, Survival, And Growth Of Listeria Monocytogenes On Food Products, Richelle Lynn Beverly Jan 2004

The Control, Survival, And Growth Of Listeria Monocytogenes On Food Products, Richelle Lynn Beverly

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Listeria monocytogenes, a ubiquitous foodborne pathogen, was recognized over 70 years ago. It is the source of the human disease listeriosis. The majority of Listeria monocytogenes that have been isolated from food product or human cases are of the serotypes ½ a, ½ b and 4b. Due to the recent outbreaks, recalls and deaths associated with Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat meat products, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on October 2, 2003 issued a directive for the control of Listeria monocytogenes on ready-to-eat products. The ready-to-eat food industry must impose a post-lethality treatment …


Effects Of Practice Strategies, Metronome Use, Meter, Hand, And Musical Function On Dual-Staved Piano Performance Accuracy And Practice Time Usage Of Undergraduate, Melody A. Hanberry Jan 2004

Effects Of Practice Strategies, Metronome Use, Meter, Hand, And Musical Function On Dual-Staved Piano Performance Accuracy And Practice Time Usage Of Undergraduate, Melody A. Hanberry

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purposes of this study were: 1) To assess the effects of practice strategies, metronome, meter, hand, and musical function on piano performance accuracy of undergraduate music majors enrolled in piano class (N=39), and 2) To assess the effects of practice strategies on practice time relative to two unfamiliar pieces of keyboard music. Throughout an eight-week training session, treatment subjects were provided strategies for practicing unfamiliar pieces of keyboard music and were allowed time in class to apply the strategies while practicing. Strategies included score analysis, isolating hand position shifts, practicing unfamiliar chords, practicing measures with accidentals, and using the …


The Influence Of Selected Perceptual And Demographic Factors On The Involvement Of Youth In Violent Behaviors, Nathaniel Mcclinton Jan 2004

The Influence Of Selected Perceptual And Demographic Factors On The Involvement Of Youth In Violent Behaviors, Nathaniel Mcclinton

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of selected perceptual and demographic factors on the self-reported aggressive/violent behaviors of young adults while they were enrolled in school. Specific objectives formulated to guide the research were to: 1)determine the level of involvement in violence and violent behaviors; 2) determine the attitudes and beliefs of young adults; 3)determine the environmental conditions experienced by young adults when last in school; 4)determine if a relationship exists between the level of violence and violent behavior and selected perceptual and environmental factors among young adults, and finally 5)determine if a model exists to …


On Qualitative Properties And Convergence Of Time-Discretization Methods For Semigroups, Mihaly Kovacs Jan 2004

On Qualitative Properties And Convergence Of Time-Discretization Methods For Semigroups, Mihaly Kovacs

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation we use functional calculus methods to investigate convergence and qualitative properties of time-discretization methods for strongly continuous semigroups. Stability, convergence, and preservation of contractivity (or norm-bound) of the semigroup under time-discretization is investigated in a Banach space setting. Preservation of positivity, concavity and other qualitative shape properties which can be described via positivity are treated in a Banach lattice framework. The use of the Hille-Phillips (H-P) functional calculus instead of the Dunford-Taylor functional calculus allows us to extend fundamental qualitative results concerning time-discretization methods and simplify their proofs, including results on multi-step schemes and variable step-sizes. We …


The Effect Of Observational Method And Task Complexity On Neuropsychological Test Performance, Linda S. Lindman Jan 2004

The Effect Of Observational Method And Task Complexity On Neuropsychological Test Performance, Linda S. Lindman

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Neuropsychologists are often called upon to conduct psychological examination in the presence of an observer in litigation cases despite research clearly demonstrating altered performance on neuropsychological tests under such conditions. Past research into the social facilitation effect suggests attentional conflict (Baron, 1986; Manstead & Semin, 1980) and increased anxiety (Guerin & Innes, 1982; Guerin, 1983) when observers are present and cannot be monitored. However, this research has found conflicting results depending upon the complexity of tasks and differences in observation condition. Meta analyses point to task complexity (Bond & Titus, 1983) and evaluation apprehension (Guerin, 1986) as important moderators of …


A Practical Guide To Twentieth-Century Violin Etudes With Performance And Theoretical Analysis, Aaron Michael Farrell Jan 2004

A Practical Guide To Twentieth-Century Violin Etudes With Performance And Theoretical Analysis, Aaron Michael Farrell

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This document is a partial catalog of what is readily available to violinists for studies relating to twentieth-century repertoire. More studies in this area exist throughout the world, so those presented here are intended merely as a starting point. The document also contains factual information about the studies, as well as performance and theoretical analysis and biographical information about the composers. This information is designed to serve a variety of purposes. The factual and biographical information may be used by the violinist to choose appropriate etudes for himself/herself or a student. Later, the in-depth analysis will assist players throughout the …


The Effect Of Music On Pre-Competitive Cognitive Anxiety, Somatic Anxiety, And Self-Confidence In Male Basketball Players, Jamie Jean Blome Jan 2004

The Effect Of Music On Pre-Competitive Cognitive Anxiety, Somatic Anxiety, And Self-Confidence In Male Basketball Players, Jamie Jean Blome

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of personally-selected music on pre-competitive cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence. Intramural athletes from a collegiate university (N = 97) were randomly assigned to a music group, white noise group, or control group. The Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) and was used to measure trait anxiety, and the modified version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAl-2) was administered to measure state anxiety and self-confidence. It was hypothesized that differences would be found in precompetitive cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence among groups. Results indicated that the music group …


Field Evaluation Of Mosquito Control And Repellent Devices In Southern Louisiana, Brett Warren Collier Jan 2004

Field Evaluation Of Mosquito Control And Repellent Devices In Southern Louisiana, Brett Warren Collier

LSU Master's Theses

The effect of 2 mosquito traps and 2 repellent systems upon the catch of an American Biophysics Corporation (ABC) light trap were evaluated over a 14-month period at 3 locations in Louisiana. Devices evaluated included: 1) ABC Mosquito Magnet® with dry ice and octenol, 2) the BioSensory 500 cc Dragonfly® Biting Insect Trap with CO2, octenol, and Mosquito Cognito® which uses Conceal™ inhibitor, 3) the SC Johnson OFF!® Mosquito Lantern, and 4) the ThermaCell® cordless mosquito repellent system for residential use. The number of mosquitoes caught in the ABC light traps at the SC Johnson OFF!® Mosquito Lantern …


Bacterial Plume Dynamics In The Marshland Upwelling System Employed In The Near Freshwater Conditions, Benjamin Kojo Addo Jan 2004

Bacterial Plume Dynamics In The Marshland Upwelling System Employed In The Near Freshwater Conditions, Benjamin Kojo Addo

LSU Master's Theses

The marshland upwelling system (MUS) was installed in a floatation marsh along the banks of the Bayou Segnette Waterway, Louisiana. This site was characterized by native groundwater of low salinity regime. Previous studies focused on the removal of fecal pathogens from settled/raw and secondarily treated wastewater under high saline groundwater conditions. The objectives of this research were to: 1) quantify the impact of natural die-off on bacterial removal within the MUS, 2) determine bacterial retardation rates in laboratory-repacked sandy loam soil columns, and 3) evaluate the effectiveness of the MUS in removing fecal pathogens from settled, raw wastewater. Varying salinities …


Evolution Of Base Substitution Gradients In Primate Mitochondrial Genomes, Sameer Raina Jan 2004

Evolution Of Base Substitution Gradients In Primate Mitochondrial Genomes, Sameer Raina

LSU Master's Theses

The availability of large amounts of genetic data from the mitochondrial DNA of species has created an unprecedented opportunity for the study of evolutionary processes. Being our closest relatives on the evolutionary tree the primates are a prime candidate for the study of evolutionary processes. The availability of large amounts of genetic data from the primates allows us to study and compare results from different phylogenetic reconstruction methods and to study and trace rudimentary evolutionary processes within the primate lineage. The evolutionary process studied here is the response of the nucleotide frequency ratios to single-strandedness of sites during mitochondrial DNA …


Removal Of Toxic Organics In Wetlands: A Mechanistic Model, Luz Edith Florez Jan 2004

Removal Of Toxic Organics In Wetlands: A Mechanistic Model, Luz Edith Florez

LSU Master's Theses

The ability of removing toxic organic compounds in natural systems is important due to the capacity of these toxicants to increase risk of diseases when they are ingested by humans. This study developed a mechanistic model to estimate the removal efficiency of toxic organics in wetlands using the tanks-in-series model. Sensitivity analyses were performed for different values of the hydraulic loading rate and two kinds of wetlands: bottomland hardwood forest and freshwater marsh. It was observed the effect in the removal efficiency by the number of cell in series was principally perceived for values of N between 1 and 4; …


Nadzab (1943): The First Successful Airborne Operation, James Philip Lowe Jan 2004

Nadzab (1943): The First Successful Airborne Operation, James Philip Lowe

LSU Master's Theses

The U.S. Army in 1940 was in the early stages of developing an airborne capability to exploit the vertical envelopment concept. That concept became reality in 1942 with the first airborne operation in North Africa. Although the first parachute drop contributed virtually nothing to the overall success of the mission, it was the beginning of an important capability. In 1943, the War Department authorized five airborne divisions despite a lack of experience and doctrine to direct the new organizational structure. The airborne initiative expanded much more quickly than did the doctrine, training, or employment principles. The first attempts of conducting …


"Honduran Memories": Identity, Race, Place And Memory In New Orleans, Louisiana, Samantha Euraque Jan 2004

"Honduran Memories": Identity, Race, Place And Memory In New Orleans, Louisiana, Samantha Euraque

LSU Master's Theses

During the decade preceding the height of the civil rights movement, a small population of Hondurans established residence in the New Orleans area. This Honduran migration was largely due to the trade relationship that existed between Honduras and New Orleans. Honduras was also experiencing political unrest and economic instability due to military coups, fruit company strikes and floods during the late 1950s. In response, the advent of the 1960s brought with it the first wave of Hondurans. According to the 2000 Census there were 64,340 people of Hispanic origin in the four parishes included in the New Orleans metropolitan area, …


Optimal Rate Of Freezing Biological Systems, Sreedhar Thirumala Jan 2004

Optimal Rate Of Freezing Biological Systems, Sreedhar Thirumala

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis addresses optimization techniques for cryopreservation of biological systems. A part of the thesis (Chapter 2) reports a simplified procedure to predict the optimal rate of freezing biological systems once the cell level parameters are known a priori. The key cell level parameters investigated were, reference permeability of the membrane to water (Lpg), apparent activation energy (ELp), inactive cell volume (Vb), diameter (D), and the ratio of the available surface area for water transport to the initial volume of intracellular water (SA/WV). The simplified procedure was developed by performing a thorough analysis of the water transport model over a …


Short-Term Evolution Of A Marsh Island System And The Importance Of Cold Front Forcing, Terrebonne Bay, Louisiana, Dana Ann Watzke Jan 2004

Short-Term Evolution Of A Marsh Island System And The Importance Of Cold Front Forcing, Terrebonne Bay, Louisiana, Dana Ann Watzke

LSU Master's Theses

Short-term, wave induced erosion along bay beaches in the northern Gulf of Mexico has been linked to the postfrontal phase of cold front passages. Not until recently has consideration been given to the importance of wave erosion on marshes fringing large bays during the entire cold front event. Two WAVCIS (Wave-Current-Surge-Information System) stations were established on the north and south flank of a small marsh island in Terrebonne Bay, Louisiana, to measure and elucidate the hydrodynamic response to these events. Data from WAVCIS stations, which includes wind speed and direction, air temperature, significant wave height and water level, were collected …


A Spatial Analysis Of The Smallpox Epidemic In Sheffield, United Kingdom, 1887-1888, Ann-Marie Cain Jan 2004

A Spatial Analysis Of The Smallpox Epidemic In Sheffield, United Kingdom, 1887-1888, Ann-Marie Cain

LSU Master's Theses

One of today's most fecund fields of research in medical geography involves using historical datasets from past epidemics and contemporary cadastre maps to plot the course of the contagion. The purpose is to study the spatial patterns of diseases that are rare or extinct today but still have large research value. The best example of this problem is smallpox. This project involves taking one of the most complete records of a smallpox epidemic, plotting the cases in a geographic information system (GIS), and exploring the spatial patterns using statistical software. As one of the most contagious and damaging diseases to …


The Effects Of Reinforcement Magnitude On Functional Analysis Outcomes, Valerie Marie Volkert Jan 2004

The Effects Of Reinforcement Magnitude On Functional Analysis Outcomes, Valerie Marie Volkert

LSU Master's Theses

The functional analysis methodology developed by Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, and Richman (1982/1994) has been successfully used to identify the variables that maintain the problem behavior of individuals with developmental disabilities. However, in some cases, the results of functional analysis may be inconclusive. Altering parameters of reinforcement, such as the schedule, the quality, or magnitude of the reinforcer, may increase the likelihood of obtaining clear functional analysis results. Few studies have evaluated the effects of reinforcement magnitude on problem behavior even though basic findings indicate that this parameter may alter functional analysis outcomes. In fact, reinforcement magnitude has varied widely …


Assessment Of Shearing Phenomenon And Porosity Of Porous Media Using Microfocus Computed Tomography, Bashar Adeeb Alramahi Jan 2004

Assessment Of Shearing Phenomenon And Porosity Of Porous Media Using Microfocus Computed Tomography, Bashar Adeeb Alramahi

LSU Master's Theses

Microfocus x-ray computed tomography (μCT) is a powerful non-destructive scanning technique to study the internal fabric of granular materials. In this thesis, μCT was applied to two cases. The first case involves studying the behavior of particles in a triaxial specimen during shearing. Three-dimensional translation and rotation of the particles were tracked throughout the shearing process, and they were used to calculate the local strain distributions. Moreover, the local dilatancy angle distribution was calculated throughout experiment. These distributions were compared to study the changes in the behavior of the particles at different stages of the test. It was noticed that …


Physicochemical And Functional Properties Of Crawfish Chitosan As Affected By Different Processing Protocols, Sun-Ok Fernandez-Kim Jan 2004

Physicochemical And Functional Properties Of Crawfish Chitosan As Affected By Different Processing Protocols, Sun-Ok Fernandez-Kim

LSU Master's Theses

Chitosan is made from chitin by a chemical process involving demineralization (DM), deproteinization (DP), decolorization (DC), and deacetylation (DA). Very little work has been done to demonstrate the effects of altering or excluding any of the processing steps on chitosan characteristics. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of process modification during chitosan production on the physiochemical and functional properties of crawfish chitosans. Five experimental chitosan samples (DCMPA, DMCPA, DMPCA, DMPAC, DAMPC) prepared with modified processing protocols and the control (DPMCA - traditional chitosan production process) were evaluated and compared with the two commercial crab chitosans. All samples …


Evaluation Of The Impacts Of Hurricane Hugo On The Land Cover Of Francis Marion National Forest, South Carolina Using Remote Sensing, Amit Kulkarni Jan 2004

Evaluation Of The Impacts Of Hurricane Hugo On The Land Cover Of Francis Marion National Forest, South Carolina Using Remote Sensing, Amit Kulkarni

LSU Master's Theses

Hurricane Hugo struck the South Carolina coast on the night of September 21, 1989 at Sullivan’s Island, where it was considered a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale when the hurricane made landfall (Hook et al. 1991). It is probably amongst the most studied and documented hurricanes in the United States (USDA Southern Research Station Publication 1996). There has been a Landsat TM based Hugo damage assessment study conducted by Cablk et al. (1994) in the Hobcaw barony forest. This study attempted to assess for a different and smaller study area near the Wambaw and Coffee creek swamp. The main …


Effects Of Aerobic And Anaerobic Training Protocols On 4000m Track Cycling Time Trial, William Mathieu Cheramie Jan 2004

Effects Of Aerobic And Anaerobic Training Protocols On 4000m Track Cycling Time Trial, William Mathieu Cheramie

LSU Master's Theses

The aim of this study was to determine whether performance in a 4000m individual pursuit could be significantly influenced by training protocols that are solely based in either aerobic/distance training, or anaerobic/sprint training. Faina et al., (1989) and Neuman et al. (1992) have found, using professional track cyclist that there appears to be a split in energy pathways used to perform the event. Their results indicate that 20% of the workload is achieved via anaerobic metabolism and the remaining 80% are achieved through aerobic metabolism. Group #1, followed a training protocol modeled after repeated, short duration, (<1:30.00s/1000m), high intensity sprinting. This particular training protocol may serve to utilize a greater proportion of its allotted time by generating beneficial metabolic adaptations that may possibly improve the subjects performance in the 4000m individual pursuit. Group #2, trained primarily through aerobic means, followed the "more traditional" training method for such an event. This protocol consisted of cycling intervals of distances proportionally longer (>4000m) than that …


Route Planning Of Automated Guided Vehicles For Container Logistics, Sanjay Shankarrao Gurav Jan 2004

Route Planning Of Automated Guided Vehicles For Container Logistics, Sanjay Shankarrao Gurav

LSU Master's Theses

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are widely used in container terminals for the movement of material from shipping to the yard area and vice versa. Research in this area is directed toward the development of a path layout design and routing algorithms for container movement. The problem is to design a path layout and a routing algorithm that will route the AGVs along the bi-directional path so that the distance traveled will be minimized. This thesis presents a bi-directional path flow layout and a routing algorithm that guarantee conflict-free, shortest time routes for AGVs. Based on the path layout, a routing …


Towards Automated Capture Of 3d Foot Geometry For Custom Orthoses, Rajeev Madazhy Jan 2004

Towards Automated Capture Of 3d Foot Geometry For Custom Orthoses, Rajeev Madazhy

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis presents a novel method of capturing 3D foot geometry from images for custom shoe insole manufacture. Orthopedic footwear plays an important role as a treatment and prevention of foot conditions associated with diabetes. Through the use of customized shoe insoles, a podiatrist can provide a means to better distribute the pressure around the foot, and can also correct the biomechanics of the foot. Different foot scanners are used to obtain the geometric plantar surface of foot, but are expensive and more generic in nature. The focus of this thesis is to build 3D foot structure from a pair …


Post Monitoring Of A Cyclodextrin Remediated Chlorinated Solvent Contaminated Aquifer, Rebecca Mary Hinrichs Jan 2004

Post Monitoring Of A Cyclodextrin Remediated Chlorinated Solvent Contaminated Aquifer, Rebecca Mary Hinrichs

LSU Master's Theses

Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) has been tested successfully in the laboratory and in the field for enhanced flushing of low-polarity contaminants from aquifers. The cyclodextrin molecule forms a toroidal structure, which has a hydrophobic cavity. Within this cavity, organic compounds of appropriate shape and size can form inclusion complexes, which is the basis for the use of cyclodextrin in groundwater remediation. The hydrophilic exterior of the molecule makes cyclodextrin highly water-soluble. The solubility of cyclodextrins can be further enhanced by adding functional groups, such as hydroxypropyl groups, to the cyclodextrin core. The aqueous solubility of HPβCD exceeds 950 g/L. These high solubilities …


A Simplified Thermohydrodynamic Stability Analysis Of The Plain Cylindrical Hydrodynamic Journal Bearings, Sumit Singhal Jan 2004

A Simplified Thermohydrodynamic Stability Analysis Of The Plain Cylindrical Hydrodynamic Journal Bearings, Sumit Singhal

LSU Master's Theses

A journal bearing is used to support radial loads under high speed operating conditions. In a journal bearing, pressure or hydrodynamic lift is generated in the thin lubricant oil film that separates the shaft and the bushing, thus preventing metal-to-metal contact. Some journal-bearing configurations are susceptible to large-amplitude, lateral vibrations due to a “self-excited instability” known as oil whirl. In order to investigate the effects of lubricant viscosity on oil whirl, a simplified Thermohydrodynamic analysis (THD) analysis of a plain cylindrical journal bearing system has been developed. The “classical” form of the Reynolds equation coupled with simplified, first-order energy equations …


Being Korean And Being Christian: Identity Making In The Korean Baptist Church Of Baton Rouge In The U.S. Deep South, Hyeon Ju Lee Jan 2004

Being Korean And Being Christian: Identity Making In The Korean Baptist Church Of Baton Rouge In The U.S. Deep South, Hyeon Ju Lee

LSU Master's Theses

The post-1965 generation Korean immigrants in the U.S., who have left their country for betterment of their lives, find themselves unable to acculturate to the U.S. mainstream culture. Although legally Americans, these Koreans strive to hold onto their culture they brought with them. A group of Koreans who belong to this post-1965 immigrant generation in Baton Rouge established a church to share religious and cultural experience while speaking Korean language and sharing Korean food--The Korean Baptist Church of Baton Rouge. The members of the Korean Baptist Church of Baton Rouge ("the Church") create a familial community within Christian and Confucian …


Effects Of Spinning-Wing Decoys On Flock Behavior And Hunting Vulnerability Of Local And Migrant Mallards And Other Ducks In Minnesota, Michael L. Szymanski Jan 2004

Effects Of Spinning-Wing Decoys On Flock Behavior And Hunting Vulnerability Of Local And Migrant Mallards And Other Ducks In Minnesota, Michael L. Szymanski

LSU Master's Theses

Waterfowl managers in Minnesota and other states are concerned that increased kill rates associated with the use of spinning-wing decoys (SWDs) may negatively affect local breeding populations of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). I conducted 219 experimental hunts to evaluate hunting vulnerability of mallards to SWDs during the 2002 duck-hunting season in Minnesota. Following experimental hunts, I asked volunteer hunters to complete post-hunt questionnaires to document their hunting experience, and their use and opinions of SWDs. Finally, I used stable isotope methodology to determine natal origins of HY mallards killed during experimental hunts. I found that mallard flocks (≥1 duck) were 2.91 …


Pattern-Based Model Transformation: A Metamodel-Based Approach To Model Evolution, Sheena Judson Miller Jan 2004

Pattern-Based Model Transformation: A Metamodel-Based Approach To Model Evolution, Sheena Judson Miller

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Software systems continue to grow in complexity at a rapid pace, creating systems that are complex to build and evolve. The problems that accompany changes in requirements, system upgrades, and error correction produce a desire for software evolution methods that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of adapting complex software to changes. As software systems evolve, design models must be modified to accommodate the required changes. Techniques that control the changes to models in a systematic manner are a key to model evolution. A process that improves the ability to effectively modify a design, thereby enhancing design qualities, supports the need …


Seasonal Occurrence Of Phyllophaga Species And Biological Studies Of Phyllophage Ephilida (Say) On Sweet Potato, Ipomoea Batatas (L) Lam, In Louisiana, Aboubacar Diagne Jan 2004

Seasonal Occurrence Of Phyllophaga Species And Biological Studies Of Phyllophage Ephilida (Say) On Sweet Potato, Ipomoea Batatas (L) Lam, In Louisiana, Aboubacar Diagne

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The biology of Phyllophaga ephilida (Say) was studied in Louisiana with both laboratory and field experiments from 1998 through 2003. The seasonal occurrence of common adult Phyllophaga species in sweet potato growing areas was surveyed with blacklight traps. P. ephilida and P. crinita (Burmeister) were the most common species at all locations. The attractiveness of seven methyl esters of L-isoleucine and L-valine blends to P. ephilida males was evaluated in sweet potato fields in 1999 and 2000. The 100% methyl ester of L-isoleucine was significantly more attractive than all other blend ratios that were tested. The life cycle of P. …


Leaf Litter Processing By Macrodetritivores In Natural And Restored Neotropical Mangrove Forests, Gary Eugene Raulerson Jan 2004

Leaf Litter Processing By Macrodetritivores In Natural And Restored Neotropical Mangrove Forests, Gary Eugene Raulerson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Knowledge of mangrove litter dynamics is crucial to an understanding of the energetic links between mangrove ecosystems and nearby estuaries and coastal waters. Previous research into the role played by macrodetritivores in Neotropical mangrove litter processing has been contradictory. This study used leaf tethering to examine the effects of macrodetritivores on initial rates of mangrove litter degradation in South Florida, USA. Leaf litter dynamics experiments were run in both natural and restored mangrove forests to assess functionality of the restoration projects. Although less important than in some other parts of the world (e.g., the Indo-Pacific), macrodetritivores played a significant role …