Respirometers have been designed, constructed and to a limited extent, tested to maintain and measure production and/or consumption of biogenic heat and carbon dioxide production and oxygen consumption for extended periods of time in approximately 0.5 1 soil and/or litter microcosms. Using coniferous soil/litter microcosms, the mean coefficient of variation within sets of similar microcosms was 10.7% for the oxygen consumption rate and 3.9% for carbon dioxide production rate. Microcosm respiratory response, population responses to moisture level where measured, succession, and salt effects were similar to those observed in the natural world. Respiration of the decomposer communities in coniferous forest soil/litter microcosms was inhibited by treatment with 'real world' salt concentrations of Cd, Se, Zn, Mn, Ni, Cu, Hg, Co, Cr, Va, Li, La, Ag, and Pb. These findings support the thesis that the consequence of these ecosystem disruptions might be to reduce primary and secondary production of the dependent populations.

"EPA-600/3-77-091" "August 1977" "Terrestrial Ecology Branch, Corvallis Environmental Research Laboratory." Includes bibliographical references (pages 48-51).