RESOURCE-ALLOCATION TO EXTRACELLULAR ENZYME-PRODUCTION - A MODEL FOR NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS CONTROL OF LITTER DECOMPOSITION

Most models for plant litter decomposition link degradation rates to m easures of climate or litter composition, rather than directly to micr obial activity. We developed a model based on the premise that saprotr ophic microbial communities maximize their productivity by optimizing their allocation of resources in the production of extracellular carbo n, nitrogen and phosphorus-acquiring enzymes. In this model, enzyme ac tivity indicators are used to estimate decomposition rates and to asse ss relative N and P availability. This approach may facilitate estimat ion of decomposition rates in the field and improve ecological forecas ting.