Leaf litter colonization by invertebrates in the littoral zone of a small oligotrophic lake

The colonization of deciduous leaf litter by aquatic invertebrates was studied at Scott Lake in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada. Deciduous leaf packs were colonized after only 2 days submergence. The invertebrate community was dominated by chironomids (25–94% depending on sampling period), and to a lesser extent by oligochaetes, turbellarians, and mayflies. Collectors, such as the chironomids Dicrotendipes, Pseudochironomus, Paratanytarsus and Parakiefferiella were the dominant functional-feeding group suggesting that leaf litter is being used as habitat rather than a direct food source. Deciduous leaf litter lost a substantial amount of weight, due to leaching, after only 48 h submergence. Fall-shed beech (Fagus grandifolia) leaves decomposed more rapidly than fall-shed sugar maple (Acer saccharum) leaves with daily processing coefficients (k), determined using an exponential decay model, of 0.0058 and 0.0039, respectively. Conversely, conditioned maple leaves, defined as leaves remaining on the ground over winter, were processed faster than conditioned beech leaves, with coefficients of 0.0042 and 0.0014, respectively. It is speculated that inhibitory compounds have been leached from the maple leaves, allowing for faster leaf processing. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Study on the Litter Decomposition of Chinese Pine and Oriental Oak

In this paper, the decomposition rates of the litter of Pinus tabulaefomis and Quercus variabilis placed in chinese pine plantation on Xi Shem in Beijing have been studied, the results showed that the differance between two kinds of litter was insignificant. The ratio of weight loss of litter placed in chinese pine plantation for 591 days was 24.2-28.06%. The exponential decay model has been used, the litter decomposition rates were estimated 0.190-4).210 g/g/year for Pinus tabulaeformis and 0.176-0.203 g/g/year for Quercus variabilis. The chemical component analysis of litter re- presented that the weight loss of litter was caused by losing gross fat, soluble sugar; tannin, organic carbon initially. The correlation coefficients between the weight loss rate and the net chemical component loss of Pinus tabulaeformis and Quercus variabilis were 0.970 (p<0.05) and 0.982 (p<0.05), respectively.     

Long-term patterns of mass loss during the decomposition of leaf and fine root litter: an intersite comparison

Decomposition is a critical process in global carbon cycling. During decomposition, leaf and fine root litter may undergo a later, relatively slow phase; past long-term experiments indicate this phase occurs, but whether it is a general phenomenon has not been examined. Data from Long-term Intersite Decomposition Experiment Team, representing 27 sites and nine litter types (for a total of 234 cases) was used to test the frequency of this later, slow phase of decomposition. Litter mass remaining after up to 10 years of decomposition was fit to models that included (dual exponential and asymptotic) or excluded (single exponential) a slow phase. The resultant regression equations were evaluated for goodness of fit as well as biological realism. Regression analysis indicated that while the dual exponential and asymptotic models statistically and biologically fit more of the litter type–site combinations than the single exponential model, the latter was biologically reasonable for 27–65% of the cases depending on the test used. This implies that a slow phase is common, but not universal. Moreover, estimates of the decomposition rate of the slowly decomposing component averaged 0.139–0.221 year⁻¹ (depending on method), higher than generally observed for mineral soil organic matter, but one-third of the faster phase of litter decomposition. Thus, this material may be slower than the earlier phases of litter decomposition, but not as slow as mineral soil organic matter. Comparison of the long-term integrated decomposition rate (which included all phases of decomposition) to that for the first year of decomposition indicated the former was on average 75% that of the latter, consistent with the presence of a slow phase of decomposition. These results indicate that the global store of litter estimated using short-term decomposition rates would be underestimated by at least one-third.     

Simple three‐pool model accurately describes patterns of long‐term litter decomposition in diverse climates

As atmospheric CO₂ increases, ecosystem carbon sequestration will largely depend on how global changes in climate will alter the balance between net primary production and decomposition. The response of primary production to climatic change has been examined using well‐validated mechanistic models, but the same is not true for decomposition, a primary source of atmospheric CO₂. We used the Long‐term Intersite Decomposition Experiment Team (LIDET) dataset and model‐selection techniques to choose and parameterize a model that describes global patterns of litter decomposition. Mass loss was best represented by a three‐pool negative exponential model, with a rapidly decomposing labile pool, an intermediate pool representing cellulose, and a recalcitrant pool. The initial litter lignin/nitrogen ratio defined the size of labile and intermediate pools. Lignin content determined the size of the recalcitrant pool. The decomposition rate of all pools was modified by climate, but the intermediate pool's decomposition rate was also controlled by relative amounts of litter cellulose and lignin (indicative of lignin‐encrusted cellulose). The effect of climate on decomposition was best represented by a composite variable that multiplied a water‐stress function by the Lloyd and Taylor variable Q₁₀ temperature function. Although our model explained nearly 70% of the variation in LIDET data, we observed systematic deviations from model predictions. Below‐ and aboveground material decomposed at notably different rates, depending on the decomposition stage. Decomposition in certain ecosystem‐specific environmental conditions was not well represented by our model; this included roots in very wet and cold soils, and aboveground litter in N‐rich and arid sites. Despite these limitations, our model may still be extremely useful for global modeling efforts, because it accurately (R²=0.6804) described general patterns of long‐term global decomposition for a wide array of litter types, using relatively minimal climatic and litter quality data.     

英国 Hampsfell 蕨菜草地生态系统中枯叶分解作用的研究

 应用三种独立的方法估算蕨菜(Pteridium aquilinum )草地生态系统中蕨菜枯叶的分解速度。尽管所用的技术不同,但所有的估算量都属于同—幅度范围。 1．蕨菜枯叶的失重率在田间放置40周后为20一22%,由此应用枯叶的残留重量的自然对数与时间关系的指数回归,导出年腐解率为0.317一0.321克／克／年,即每年每克枯叶失去的重量。2．根据枯叶呼吸作用的测定所估算的氧的年总消耗量,指出21.04—24.38%的失重率是由枯叶上的微生物呼吸所造成。3．由枯叶的年输入量和地面积累的现存量计算而得的地表蕨菜枯叶的常数消失率为0.26。     

The decomposition of mangrove litter in a subtropical mangrove forest

Decomposition of Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. leaf and woody litter (twigs) was studied using litter bag experiments in a subtropical mangrove forest at two tidal levels (high and low) with different inundation regimes and during two seasons (summer and winter). Losses in dry weight were best described by a single exponential model which showed loss rates of both leaves and twigs were significantly higher low down on the shoreline (greater inundation) and in summer. The time (days) required for the loss of half of the initial dry weight (t ₅₀) was summer: high 59, low 44; winter: high 98, low 78. For twigs the values (days) were summer: high 383, low 179; winter; high 1327, low 1207. There is an exponential relationship between leaf litter t ₅₀'s and latitude which indicates the importance of temperature and therefore season, to the dynamics of organic cycling and export in mangrove systems.     

两种中国特有树种的枯叶分解速率

银杏和水杉是我国特有的珍贵树种。本文对北京公园内银杏和水杉林下的枯叶分解速率进行了试验研究。枯叶失重率：放置380天的银杏为55.63%;放置338天的水杉为53.39%。用指数衰减模型估算枯叶的年腐解率,银杏为0.771克／(克·年);水杉为0.824克／(克·年)。根据枯叶的化学成分分析表明,枯叶的失重率和枯叶化学成分净丧失值的变化趋势相一致。枯叶在一年的分解过程中,碳、氮含量比值随时间的推移而下降。     

Simulation of the decomposition and nitrogen mineralization of aboveground plant material in two unfertilized grassland ecosystems

A simple model of the decomposition and nitrogen mineralization of plant material from two unfertilized grassland ecosystems has been developed, with only the proportion of leaves and stems in the original material, the initial nitrogen contents of these plant parts and temperature as input data. The model simulates carbon losses from stems and leaves, using a double exponential decay function, with the temperature sum as independent variable. Mineralization of nitrogen is not calculated via microbial growth rates, but simulated on the basis of the carbon utilization efficiency of the microorganisms and the critical C/N ratio, i.e. the C/N ratio of the litter at which the microbial demand for nitrogen is met exactly. The parameter values for leaching fractions of carbon and nitrogen, relative decay rates, microbial carbon utilization efficiencies and critical C/N ratios were derived from a litter bag experiment with 12 litter types (species) including both green and dead materials, carried out in two unfertilized grassland ecosystems differing in production level. The model was evaluated using a cross-validation method, in which one species was omitted from the parametrization procedure, and its decomposition and mineralization were predicted by the resulting model. In general there was good agreement between the observed and predicted amounts of carbon and nitrogen remaining for all green litter types/species, but carbon and nitrogen dynamics in the dead material of Festuca rubra were poorly predicted. This disparity has been attributed to the proportion of leaves in the material of Festuca rubra (95%) being far beyond the range of leaf proportions in the three litter types the calibration set consisted of (8–35%). When the data of all litter types were used to determine the model parameters, good agreement was obtained between measured and simulated values for the changes in nitrogen and carbon in all litter types of both the green and dead material series. Optimization yielded parameter values for microbial carbon utilization efficiencies of 0.30 for microorganisms associated with green litter and 0.35 for those associated with dead litter. The critical C/N ratios for green and dead material were found to be 29 and 36, respectively.     

西双版纳热带雨林凋落叶分解的生态过程I.凋落叶分解动态

 通过野外试验和室内模拟相结合,系统研究了西双版纳热带雨林生态系统混合凋落叶分解的生态过程。野 外试验采用网袋法,即1 mm和100μm网眼网袋,分别限制大型土壤动物和螨类的进入,从而分别观测小型 土壤动物（螨类）、线虫的分解作用;室内试验则通过控制温、湿度条件,采用灭菌_接种法分别观测微 生物和线虫对凋落叶的分解。研究结果表明,凋落叶的分解是一个先快后慢的过程,在这个过程中存在分 解“滞留”阶段,分解速率变化发生波动,且波动的程度与食物链的复杂程度有关,食物链越复杂,波动 程度越强烈。利用单指数衰减模型xt/xo=exp(-kt)和双指数模型xt/xo=a×exp(-k1t)+b×exp(-k2t) 对凋 落叶分解过程进行模拟,后者将凋落叶前欺的快速分解和后期的慢速分解两个过程分别拟合,不但弥补了 分解前期单指数衰减模型与观测值之间不能吻合的缺陷,而且消除了单指数模型对长期分解进程的过高预 测,因此能更好地反映实际分解进程。利用双指数生物模型研究生物和非生物因子对凋落叶分解速率的贡 献表明,土壤动物是影响分解进程的最重要因子,占影响因子总量的78.1%,非生物因素的作用为14.1%, 微生物对分解速率的贡献只有7.8%。在热带森林生态系统中,土壤动物是最重要的分解者。     

辽东栎叶片凋落物在不同气候带下的分解及其主要元素释放的比较

应用分解网袋法对辽东栎（Quercus liaotungensis Koize)叶片凋落物分别在暖温带的东灵山,亚热带的神农架,热带的西双版纳为期1-2年的分解和K,Ca,Mg,Fe,P,Cu,Mn等营养元素释放动态进行比较研究。三个气候带下辽东栎叶片凋落物质量损失基本符合Olson的指数模型。但降解速率有很大的差别。气候条件对凋落物的分解和营养元素的释放影响很大,降水量增多,年均温增高,凋落物分解速率相应加快,研究还发现影响营养元素释放的因素除公认的土壤生物（土壤动物和土壤微生物）作用外。对于Fe,Mn等元素遵循的是“化学因素主导”模式。特征在于由于化学螯合作用。其释放过程和凋落物本身失重呈显著负相关。另外,对不同因素占主导的各种分解模式进行了归纳总结。     

Decomposition and accumulation of litter after fire in sub-alpine eucalypt forests

Accession, decomposition and accumulation of litter were studied in three sub-alpine eucalypt forest communities (dominated by overstoreys of Eucalyptus delegatensis, E. pauciflora or E. dives) located in the Brindabella Range. Australian Capital Territory, at an elevation of 1100–1250 m. The sites had either been protected from fire for more than 20 years or been burnt by low-intensity prescribed fires. After a prescribed burn, the rate of decomposition of abscised leaves was reduced by 22% in E. delegatensis forest and by 34% in E. pauciflora forest, but was little affected in the drier E. dives community. Lowered decomposition was apparently due to greater aridity after fire, a consequence of removal of the shading understorey and reduction in the depth and hence mulching effect of the titter layer. Litter accumulates rapidly after prescribed burning, reaching a mass of 10–12 t ha^?1 within 4–5 years in all communities. Such quantities are dangerous from a fire control viewpoint. The quasi steady-state mass of accumulated litter ranges from about 17 t ha^?1 in E. dives and E. pauciflora forests to about 25 t ha^?1 in old-growth E. delegatensis forests. The rapid re-accumulation of litter after fire is not the result of any significant change in litterfall rate, but is due to a marked reduction in the total amount of litter decomposing—and this reduction is more a consequence of a decrease in the weight of the forest floor than to any fire-induced lowering of the rate of litter decomposition. The rapid build-up of litter is a consequence of the relatively high rates of litterfall (3.4–5.0 t ha^?1 year^?1) and low rates of litter decomposition (k = 0.19–0.32 year^?1) in these forests. In most cases the pattern of litter accumulation was well described by an exponential equation of the form X_t= X_ss (1—e_-kt), where X_t is the weight (t ha_?1) of litter accumulated at time t (year). X_ss is the weight of litter accumulated under steady-state conditions, and k is a decomposition rate constant (year^?1). Marked temporal variations in annual litterfall and mass of accumulated litter were found at specific forest sites which had been unburnt for more than 4.5 years. Variation from the long-term mean was greater for litterfall (31–37%) than for accumulated litter (14–26%). The maximum error when calculating decomposition rate (k) as the ratio of annual litterfall: accumulated titter, when based on single measurements of these parameters, ranged from 43 to 69% of that based on long-term measurements. Decomposition rates of the entire titter layer, calculated for periods of 22–79 months, and based on measurements of litter input and change in mass of accumulated titter, were positively correlated with the average number of days per month during each period that the litter layer remained moist (>approx. 60% ODW). The implications of these findings for fire management planning in sub-alpine and other eucalypt forests are briefly discussed.     

Effects of water quality on habitat use by lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) broods in the boreal Northwest Territories, Canada

The dynamics of Rhizophora mangle litter production and decomposition were studied in a tropical coastal lagoon on the Gulf of Mexico in Veracruz, Mexico over a year (October 2002–October 2003). This region is characterized by three seasons: northerly winds (called ‘nortes’), dry, and rainy. Annual litter production (1116 g m⁻²) followed a seasonal pattern with leaf litter as the main fraction (70%) with two peaks in the dry and one in the rainy season. Leaf decomposition was evaluated with two types of litter bag in each season: fine mesh (1×1 mm) and coarse mesh (3×7 mm). Decomposition data were adjusted to a single negative exponential model. The results indicated faster decomposition rates in the coarse litter bag and significant differences among seasons. However these differences occurred after the 60th day of decomposition, indicating that leaching and microbial action were responsible for more than 50% of mass loss. After this period, the effects of aquatic invertebrates were evident but depended on climatic conditions. In the rainy season, the gastropod Neritina reclivata was associated with increasing leaf decomposition rate. In the ‘nortes’ season, the effect of aquatic invertebrates was smaller, and there were no differences in the decay constants calculated for the two litter bag types. High litter production represents an important input of organic matter which, through decomposition, may represent an important source of C, N, and P in this aquatic system.     

松嫩草原优势植物羊草立枯体分解的研究

在羊草草原上当年羊草的枯死体大部分以立枯体的形态存在,立枯量约占枯死量的７５．３４％。立枯体与凋落物的分解速率的季节变化趋势基本相同,均呈抛物线型。每月凋落物的分解速率均大于立枯体分解速率,二者最小值均出现在１０月份。其中立枯体分解速率最大值出现在７月,凋落物出现在８月。立枯体和凋落物损失率的季节变化曲线均呈指数形式,立枯体的所损失量约占凋落物损失量的７７．１１％。立枯体的分解与水热因子均呈指数正     

Development of insects under fluctuating temperature: a review and case study

The relationship between temperature and the developmental rate of organisms is crucial for understanding a variety of biological processes. It is common to use an average‐based index of temperature, for example degree‐days, for examining the relationship; and relatively little attention has been given to the variance of temperature. In this study, we examined the importance of temperature fluctuation on the development of organisms by compiling published studies. Published studies have shown highly variable results where the developmental rate was sometimes higher and sometimes lower under static temperature compared with variable temperature. A laboratory experiment on Megaselia scalaris showed that M. scalaris developed faster under fluctuating temperature than static temperature. We tested an additive model to predict the effect of fluctuating temperature on development and found that the model was inadequate for making quantitative predictions. However, some qualitative predictions, for example temperature fluctuation has a positive or negative effect, can be successfully predicted by the additive model. Our results show that the effect of temperature on developmental rate is not completely additive and average‐based indices such as degree‐days cannot be used when quantitative predictions are required.     

A Simulation Model for Assessing Soybean Rust Epidemics

A soybean rust (causal agent Phakopsora pachyrhizt) simulation model was developed for assessing disease epidemics as a part of pest risk analysis. Equations describing environmental effects on disease components were developed by re-analyzing previous data with a view toward a systems approach. The infection rate was predicted well using dew period and temperature after inoculation as independent variables (R²=0.88, P < 0.0001). The exponential models which used physiological day as an independent variable explained 98% of the variations of latent period and senescence of disease lesions. The simulation model was validated with data from 72 sequential planting experiments during 1980 and 1981 in Taiwan. Time of onset for these epidemics varied from 25—60 days and 50—80 days after planting soybean cultivars TK 5 and G 8587, respectively. The epidemic periods were 75—95 for TK 5 and 100—120 days for G 8587. Variation of epidemics was accurately predicted by the simulator. Predicted disease curves fit well the observed disease curves for the recognized cropping seasons, spring- and autumn-seeded crops. For G 8587, which is very sensitive to photoperiod, the data from spring and autumn gave a better fit compared with data from pre-summer planting. The model underestimated disease epidemics during the winter, probably because the plant growth model failed to reflect the photoperiod rection of soybean. The simulation model was validated with data from other experiments conducted in three cropping seasons in 1979 and 1980. Determination coefficients of the regression between observed and predicted disease severity were significant.     

Latitudinal patterns in leaf litter breakdown: is temperature really important?

1. Forest stream food webs depend largely on input of dead riparian zone leaves for their energy, which is converted into living biomass by microbes, macroinvertebrates and fish. 2. Temperature has been invoked as important in controlling breakdown rates, and aquatic biologists have suggested that by normalizing processing rates to degree days rather than days, one can ‘factor out’ the effect of temperature and compare processing rates in streams with different thermal regimes (e.g. different seasons or study sites in different biomes). 3. We examined processing rates (k) along a latitudinal (i.e. thermal) gradient by using reciprocal transplants of leafpacks. We placed leafpacks of ten tree species (representing a large range of leaf litter quality) in streams in Costa Rica, Michigan and Alaska using coarse-mesh (20mm) litter bags. We then examined both the ‘per day’(k_day) and ‘per degree day’ (k_{degree day}) models of leaf litter processing. While processing rates (per day) were fastest at the Costa Rica site (as expected), rates at the Alaska and Michigan sites were similar to each other, which we would not predict if temperature were the principal factor controlling breakdown rate. If using degree days eliminates any effect of differing thermal regimes, rates should be similar across latitudes; however, rates at the Alaska site were much faster (per degree day) than rates at the sites in Costa Rica and Michigan. 4. We compared our data with studies in the North American literature. Regression analysis of k_day and k_{degree day} against latitude of the study site revealed that processing rates (k_day) of leaves (from a wide range of tree species in a wide range of stream types) showed no significant change with increasing latitude. However, when normalized for temperature (k_{Degree day}), a positive correlation was found between processing rates and latitude, causing us to reject the hypothesis that normalizing processing rates to cumulative degree days removes the effect of temperature. 5. We suggest three hypotheses: (i) shredding insect populations have adapted to the local thermal regime, and invertebrate-mediated processing rates are either similar between regions (showing no latitudinal pattern), or increase with latitude; (ii) microbial populations are less active at colder temperatures, and the rate of microbially mediated processing of leaf litter will show a decrease with latitude, and consequently (iii) the relative importance of invertebrate v microbial processing changes on a latitudinal gradient, with invertebrates being more important at high latitudes.     

温室甜椒叶面积指数形成模拟模型

叶面积指数是光合作用驱动的作物生长模型以及冠层蒸腾模型所需的重要作物参数,温度和辐射是影响叶片生长的重要环境因子.通过不同定植期、不同品种、不同地点的试 验,定量分析了温室甜椒出叶数、叶片长度和叶面积指数与温度和辐射的关系,构建了温室 甜椒叶面积模型,并利用独立的试验资料对模型进行了检验.结果表明：甜椒出叶数与出苗 后累积辐热积呈指数函数关系;叶片长度与出叶后累积辐热积呈负指数函数关系;甜椒出叶 数、叶片长度和叶面积指数的模拟结果与实测值之间的决定系数R²分别为0.94、0.89、0.93,其回归估计标准误RMSE分别为3.4、2.15 cm、0.15.该模型能够利用气温、辐射、 种植密度和出苗日期准确地预测温室甜椒叶面积指数动态,且模型参数少、实用性强,可以为温室甜椒生长模型和蒸腾模型提供必需的叶面积指数动态信息.     

Effects of chronic chlorine exposure on litter processing in outdoor experimental streams

SUMMARY 1. The effects of chlorine on litter ( Potamogeton crispus L.) processing were examined using six outdoor experimental streams. Downstream portions of two streams were dosed at c . 10 μg l⁻¹ Total Residual Chlorine (TRC), one stream at 64 μgl¹, and one stream at 230μg l⁻¹. Two control streams were not dosed; upstream riffles of each stream served as instream controls.
2. Two 35 day litter breakdown (per cent AFDW remaining) experiments indicated significantly lower decay rates in the high dose riffle. No other concentration of chlorine significantly affected decay rate.
3. A third experiment, conducted in medium and high dose streams, indicated that high dose chlorine exposure reduced litter decomposition rates significantly, and reduced microbial colonization, microbial electron transport system activity, and microbial litter decomposition after 4 days but not after 11 days of exposure. The number of amphipod shredders colonizing litter bags was also reduced significantly with high chlorine dose.
4. A fourth experiment, after dosing was terminated, provided direct evidence that amphipod shredders were important in facilitating litter decomposition: litter bags stocked with amphipods had significantly higher decomposition rates than bags which excluded shredders.
5. Overall results indicate that the high dose (c. 230 μgl⁻¹ TRC) of chlorine reduced litter processing rates partly by reducing initial microbial conditioning, but primarily by reducing the colonization of amphipod shredders.     

Comparative study of the mass loss rate of moss litter in boreal and subalpine forests in relation to temperature

The mossHylocomium splendens shows a very wide distribution in the Northern Hemisphere and may be useful as an indicator of climatic change on a global scale. We aimed to establish a convenient method to estimate the annual rate of litter mass loss of this species. The rate was calculated from the annual litter production rate and the amount of litter accumulated in the field. The litter production rate was estimated by analysis of the moss shoot growth. The rates calculated by this method tended to be larger than estimates obtained by the litter bag method. Using this method, we examined the difference in the litter mass loss rate along the altitudinal and latitudinal temperature gradients. The moss samples were collected from three boreal forests in Canada and four subalpine forests in Japan. At the subalpine sites, the annual rate of litter mass loss was within the range of 10–24% and tended to be smaller with increasing altitude. The rates in the boreal sites were similar to those in the subalpine sites despite lower mean annual temperatures. A significant log-linear relationship was observed between the annual mass loss rate and the cumulative value of monthly mean air temperatures higher than 0°C (CMT). Nitrogen concentration of the litter was positively correlated with mean annual air temperature. Site to site variation in the annual mass loss rate was largely explained by CMT and nitrogen concentration of the litter.     

Thiosulfate elimination and permeability in a sulfide-adapted marine invertebrate.

Oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to thiosulfate is one of the best-characterized mechanisms by which animals adapted to sulfide minimize its toxicity, but the mechanism of thiosulfate elimination in these animals has remained unclear. In this study, we examined the accumulation and elimination of thiosulfate in the sulfide-adapted marine worm Urechis caupo. The coelomic fluid of U. caupo exposed to 50-100 micromol L-1 sulfide in hypoxic seawater (Po2 ca. 10 kPa) accumulated (mean+/-SD) 132+/-41 micromol L-1 thiosulfate after 2 h, reaching 227+/-113 micromol L-1 after an additional 4 h in aerated, sulfide-free seawater. In whole-animal thiosulfate clearance studies, the rate of thiosulfate elimination from the coelomic fluid followed a single exponential time course with a half-life of 6 h. The thiosulfate permeability coefficient of isolated preparations mounted in diffusion chambers was 7.6x10-5+/-7. 7x10-5 cm s-1 for the hindgut and 5.5x10-7+/-2.7x10-7 cm s-1 for the body wall. These rates were independent of the direction of net efflux (mucosal-to-serosal or serosal-to-mucosal). Using a simple mathematical model of U. caupo that incorporates the thiosulfate permeability coefficients, the thiosulfate half-life was calculated to be 23 h without hindgut ventilation but less than 1 h with normal hindgut ventilation. Based on this information, we propose that passive thiosulfate diffusion across the hindgut is adequate to explain the observed rates of thiosulfate elimination.