An assessment of cellulose filters as a standardized material for measuring litter breakdown in headwater streams

Abstract

The decay rate of cellulose filters and associated chemical and biological characteristics were compared with those of white oak (Quercus alba) leaves to determine whether cellulose filters could be a suitable standardized material for assessing deciduous leaf breakdown in headwater streams. The comparison was done across reaches draining mixed deciduous forest and post-coal mining catchments, in natural and constructed channels, and ranged in flow duration from ephemeral to perennial. Decay rates of leaves and filters were predicted to differ at a given site, but the decay rates and associated characteristics of leaf and filter litterbags would be positively related. Filter decay rates did not differ across channel type or flow permanence class. Oak leaves decayed ca 2Ð5ð faster than cellulose filters and there was no relationship between decay rates (R 2 D 0Ð02). Ergosterol concentration, total invertebrate density, shredder density, total invertebrate biomass and taxa richness were significantly higher in oak litterbags than in filter litterbags across four sampling dates over 306 days. The biomass of invertebrate shredders colonizing litterbags did not differ between the substrate types. The C : N content was higher for filters than for oak leaves, but the mean difference between substrates decreased by ¾10-fold over the 306-day study. In contrast, mean differences in ergosterol concentration between substrates increased threefold over the study. Although characteristics associated with filter litterbags were positively related to those of oak leaf litterbags, most relationships had low explanatory power (R 2 Ä 0Ð3); however, stronger relationships existed for total invertebrate density, shredder density and taxa richness (R 2 D 0Ð78). Although a standardized material would be useful for incorporating litter breakdown in stream assessments, because of the strong differences in decay rate and associated characteristics, we cannot recommend cellulose filters as a suitable substrate to represent the natural breakdown of leaf material. Published in 2010. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Towards a simple global-standard bioassay for a key ecosystem process: organic-matter decomposition using cotton strips

“…The 'Shirley Soil Burial Test Fabric' was subsequently used in aquatic ecosystems where it was found to be sensitive to variation in environmental conditions (Hildrew et al, 1984;Boulton and Quinn, 2000;Claret et al, 2001;Tiegs et al, 2007). Unfortunately, the manufacture of Shirley material was discontinued in 2002, creating need for a new standard (Fritz et al, 2011). Several materials have since been used including 'Calico' cloth (Imberger et al, 2010), 'Artist's canvas' (Slocum et al, 2009), also known as 'Artist's fabric' (Tiegs et al, 2013) and 'Empa material' (Clapcott et al, 2010).…”

Trends of litter decomposition and soil organic matter stocks across forested swamp environments of the southeastern US

“…While cotton cloth responded to environments of air temperature, precipitation and drawdown % in ways predicted by the literature and hypotheses tested in this study, the actual responses of wood and leaf litter decomposition to these environments was quite different than cloth (Table 2). Other studies have observed this same problem with proxy materials; cellulose filter degradation was little related to the decomposition response of Quercus alba leaves in streams [64]. These studies bring into question the validity of using proxy materials to represent plant litter responses to environment in decomposition studies, at least without careful comparisons in specific environments.…”

The Robinson Forest environmental monitoring network: Long‐term evaluation of streamflow and precipitation quantity and stream‐water and bulk deposition chemistry in eastern Kentucky watersheds

“…Understanding the impacts of surface mining on aquatic ecology, streamwater chemistry and hydrology has also been a major T A B L E 1 Summary of available streamflow and water-quality records for Robinson Forest T A B L E 3 Summary of methods and measurement uncertainties for precipitation and stream-water chemistry analyses (1971-1999; methyl orange titration method); then titration to pH endpoint (pH = 4.5; 1999-2016); subsequently, titration to colour endpoint (metyl orange method). focus of work at Robinson Forest (Agouridis et al, 2017;Burke et al, 2014;Fritz et al, 2011;Hutton et al, 2020;Mastin et al, 2012;Muncy et al, 2014;Pond et al, 2016;Price et al, 2016;Price et al, 2018;Strohm, 2014;. The network has been utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of forestry best management practices for protecting water resources (Adkins et al, 2016;Barton et al, 2017;Bowker et al, 2020;Maigret et al, 2014;Witt et al, 2013;Witt et al, 2016).…”

“…Recent projects include the characterization and modelling of hydrology in headwater streams of eastern Kentucky (Blackburn‐Lynch et al, 2017; Villines et al, 2015; Williamson et al, 2015). Understanding the impacts of surface mining on aquatic ecology, streamwater chemistry and hydrology has also been a major focus of work at Robinson Forest (Agouridis et al, 2017; Burke et al, 2014; Fritz et al, 2011; Hutton et al, 2020; Mastin et al, 2012; Muncy et al, 2014; Pond et al, 2016; Price et al, 2016; Price et al, 2018; Strohm, 2014; Williamson & Barton, 2020). The network has been utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of forestry best management practices for protecting water resources (Adkins et al, 2016; Barton et al, 2017; Bowker et al, 2020; Maigret et al, 2014; Witt et al, 2013; Witt et al, 2016).…”