This book provides a comprehensive overview of the methods used to examine the decomposition of plant litter, one of the most fundamental ecosystem processes. Special emphasis is placed on leaf litter in fresh waters, but most methods are equally applicable to plant litter in coastal marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Rather than presenting specific protocols, the book focuses on the principles and concepts underlying the various methods and their relative merits and limitations.--Specifically the multi-authored chapters deal with:-litter mass loss and the controlling factors-detritivores, fungi and bacteria associated with decomposing litter-bulk chemical litter properties-models describing the decomposition process-the use of litter decomposition in bioassessment and educationLitter Decomposition in Aquatic Ecosystems is part of the new Ecological Methods and Concepts series (formerly Methods in Ecology). The series provides graduate students and practicing research scientists with the latest information on experimental techniques and current thinking in ecology.