Thornhill, I., Ledger, M., Batty, L., Friberg, N.  Leaf litter breakdown as a measure of ecosystem functioning in ponds across an urban land-use gradient.  West Midlands and North West Freshwater Group annual meeting, University of Bolton, UK, September 2011

Abstract:
Leaf breakdown experiments are commonly used to assess ecosystem function in streams, but rarely in stillwaters. We tested ecosystem function in urban ponds within the Birmingham conurbation against a gradient of land use. Microbial activity drives leaf breakdown in urban ponds, particularly where shredder abundances are impacted.

(Slides)