Abstract
Secondarily treated sewage effluent is being recycled through small cypress [Taxodium distichum and T. d. var. nutans] swamps in Florida [USA] but after 2 yr, annual litter fall did not show an increase attributable to sewage addition. Rate of biomass disappearance from cypress needles in litter bags did not change in the presence of effluent, even though the swamp water was nearly anaerobic. Any increase in litter fall that may eventually occur is unlikely to cause significant increases in litter accumulation.