Changing resources: assessment of leaf litter carbohydrate resource changeat a microbial scale of resolution

Studies of chemical changes in leaf litter resources during decomposition h ave relied upon bulk litter analysis using wet chemistry. We introduce, her e, the use of microscopic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (Fr-IR) t o evaluate changes in the carbohydrate chemistry of leaf litters at the sca le of resolution relevant to the study of microbes (mum) and the use of seq uential, non-destructive sampling of the same point. We demonstrate some of the discriminatory power of the method and follow the effect of enzymatic degradation of leaf material which reflects changes in carbohydrate chemist ry during natural decomposition and in the presence of a saprotrophic fungu s. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.