Aquatic Ecology Lab - Cotton Strips

The Cotton-Strip Assay

Here are some recent papers that have successfully used the cotton-strip assay:

Fell, S., Carrivick, J.L., Cauvy-Fraunie, S.C., Crespo-Pérez, V., Hood, E.W., Randall, K.C., Nicholass, K.J.M., Dumbrell, A.J., Tiegs, S.D., and L.E. Brown. (2021). Glacier Loss Accelerates Fungal Decomposition of River Organic Matter. Nature Climate Change

Burdon, F.J., Y. Bai, M. Reyes, M. Tamminen, P. Staudacher, S. Mangold, H. Singer, K. Räsänen, A. Joss, S.D. Tiegs, J. Jokela, R.I.L. Eggen, and C. Stamm. (2020). Stream Microbial Communities and Ecosystem Functioning Show Complex Responses to Multiple Stressors in Wastewater. Global Change Biology

Colas, F., Woodward, G., Burdon, F.J., Guérold, F., Chauvet, E., Cornut, J., Cébron, A., Clivot, H., Danger, M., Danner, M.C., Pagnout, C., and S.D. Tiegs. In press. Towards a simple global-standard bioassay for a key ecosystem process: organic-matter decomposition using cotton strips. Ecological Indicators

Tiegs, S.D., D. M. Costello, M. W. Isken, G. Woodward, P. B. McIntyre, M. O. Gessner, E. Chauvet, N. A. Griffiths, A. S. Flecker, et al. (2019). Global patterns and drivers of ecosystem functioning in rivers and riparian zones. Science Advances 5, eaav0486.

Herve, P., S.D. Tiegs, S. Grellier, K.M. Wantzen and F. Isselin-Nondedeu. 2019. Combined Effects of Vegetation and Drought on Organic-matter Decomposition in Vernal Pool Soils. Wetlands 39:321–327.

Vizza,C., J.A. Zwart, J. Jones,Tiegs, S.D. and G.A. Lamberti. 2017. Landscape Patterns Shape Wetland Pond Ecosystem Function from Glacial Headwaters to Ocean. Limnology and Oceanography 2:8-21.

Jackson, M., O. Weyl, F. Altermatt, I. Durance, N. Friberg, A. Dumbrell, J. Piggott, S.D. Tiegs, K. Tockner, A. Lehmann, A. Narwani, C. Krug, Leadley and G. Woodward. 2016. Recommendations for the Next Generation of Global Freshwater Biomonitoring Tools. Advances in Ecological Research 55:615-636.

Wensink, S. and S.D. Tiegs. 2016. Shoreline Hardening Alters Freshwater Shoreline Ecosystems. Freshwater Science 35:764-77.

Griffiths, N.A., and S.D. Tiegs. 2016. Organic-matter Decomposition along a Temperature Gradient in a Forested Headwater Stream. Freshwater Science 35:518-533.

Tiegs, S.D., J.E. Clapcott, N.A. Griffiths and A.J. Boulton. 2013. A Standardized Cotton-strip Assay for Measuring Organic-matter Decomposition in Streams. Ecological Indicators 32:131-139.

The cotton-strip assay is a method for quantifying rates of decomposition in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Because this method is highly standardized and easy-to-use, we now have directly comparable decomposition rates from over 700 streams across the planet in a variety of biomes and ecosystems.

We prepare cotton strips from Artist's fabric (see methods in Tiegs et al. 2013, Ecological Indicators, modified from Slocum et al. 2009). This substrate comprises >95% cellulose - the most abundant organic polymer on Earth and the main constituent of plant matter, making it an appropriate proxy for allochthonous carbon sources. Cotton strips are deployed in the field and retrieved after an appropriate amount of time. To quantify decomposition rates, we measure the loss of tensile strength of the fabric, a process that is representative of the catabolism of cellulose.

Our lab prepares cotton strips and performs tensile strength measurements for researchers on a contract basis. If you are interested in this service or would like more information, contact tiegs@oakland.edu

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