Phenol oxidase activity was determined by adding 2.0 mL soil suspension to 2.0

mL 10 mM L-DOPA (L-dihydroxphenylalanine) in 10 mM Tris-HCL pH 8.5 in 10 mL

EppendorfFM centrifuge tubes. Peroxidase activity was determined by adding 2.0 mL soil

suspension to 2.0 mL 10 mM L-DOPA with 200 [iL 0.3% H202. The solutions were

vortexed for 30 seconds and placed on a shaker plate in a light-proof box for 45 minutes.

The solutions were then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 30 seconds and 500 [iL supernatant

was extracted and quadruplicates were placed in a CorningTM 48-well culture plate.

Controls consisting of 250 [tL DI H20 and 250 [tL 10 mM L-DOPA solution were added

to the remaining wells. Absorbance was read at 360/460 nm excitation/emission on the

spectrofluorimeter. Quenching was performed using the soil suspensions with a total

volume of 500 [iL in each well.

 Sample nutrient analysis was performed by DB Labs, Rockledge, FL. Total

phosphorus (TP) (EPA 365.2), total nitrogen (TN) (MVP), total organic carbon (TOC)

(MVP), calcium (Ca)(SW7140), magnesium (Mg)(SW7450), and lignin (AOAC 973.18)

analysis was performed using standard methods on homogenized samples.

Models

 Extracellular enzymes can be grouped into four categories: Ecell (BGL and

CBH), En (LEU), Ep (PHO), and Eox (PHE and PER); allowing the enzymes to be

separated into those involved in C, N, and P mineralization as well as lignin degradation,

respectively. While there are many enzymes in each category, it is assumed that the

activity of one, or more preferably a few enzymes in each group are sufficiently

correlated such that the activity of a few can act as indicators for the entire group.