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, 500 [iL

supernatant was then extracted and placed in quadruplicate in a CorningTM 48-well

culture plate. Controls consisting of 250 uL DI H20 and 250 [iL 10 mM L-DOPA

solution were added to the remaining wells.

 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), and lignin (AOAC 973.18) analyses were performed

using standard methods on homogenized samples.

 Potential enzyme activities are expressed in moles IMUF released g-1 AFDM h-1

for BGL and PHO, [moles AMC released g-1 AFDM h-1 for LEU, and moles DICQ

released g-1 AFDM h-1 for PHE and PER.

Models

 Extracellular enzymes were grouped into four categories: Ecell (BGL), En (LEU),

Ep (PHO), and Eox (PHE and PER). This allowed the enzymes to be grouped to indicate

C, N, and P mineralization as well as lignin degradation, respectively. Enzyme activities

were normalized on a scale of 0-1 to eliminate the weighting effects of the more active

enzymes. Enzyme ratios were formulated to examine resource allocation and were based

on assumptions derived from the MARCIE (Microbial Allocation of Resources Among

Community Indicator Enzymes) model (Sinsabaugh and Moorhead, 1994; Sinsabaugh

and Findlay, 1995; Sinsabaugh et al., 1997; Sinsabaugh et al., 2002). The model is based

on the premise that the enzyme mediated decomposition of complex molecules is the rate

limiting step in C mineralization, indicating that the expression of enzymes are tied to

environmental nutrient availabilities and that the distribution of enzyme activities can be