Vertical flows of leaf litter detritus (solid arrows) connect the terrestrial leaf biomass (B) compartment to the terrestrial and aquatic detritus compartments (D to the left and right side, respectively). A lateral flow from terrestrial to aquatic systems connects the two detritus compartments. Magnitudes of flows are given in g day-1m-2(vertical flows) or g day-1m-1(lateral flows). Decomposition by microbes (M) and consumers (C, i.e., invertebrates) in their respective ecosystem is indicated by dashed arrows. The magnitude of the decomposition is given by the decomposition rate kD. Yellow arrows represent fluxes of an abundant and recalcitrant litter type (beech litter), whereas red arrows represent fluxes of more labile and scarcer litter types (alder, poplar, and mixed litter). Standard errors of the fluxes are given inFigure 2. See alsoFigures S1andS2.
