Leaf breakdown in tropical streams: the role of different species in ecosystem functioning

Boyero, Luz; Pearson, Richard G.; Camacho, Regina

doi:10.1127/0003-9136/2006/0166-0453

Cited by 29 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…At each location, we used leaves from three riparian tree species, which were the most abundant leaves in the study streams , and that differed in decomposability (high, medium and low; determined from previous work in the AWT [Boyero et al 2006 and PAN [R. Camacho, L. Boyero and R. G. Pearson, unpubl. data]).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local Variation in Shredder Distribution can Explain their Oversight in Tropical Streams

et al. 2009

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Stream shredders play an important role in the breakdown of allochthonous leaf litter-a well-known, key process in temperate headwater streams. In contrast, it has been suggested that litter breakdown in tropical streams is driven by microorganisms, shredders being scarce or absent. We propose that shredders have been overlooked in some tropical streams for two reasons: (1) assuming that tropical shredders belong to the same taxa as temperate ones, without determining the diet of tropical litter fauna; and (2) the small spatial scale of most tropical stream studies, which do not account for intra-and inter-site comparisons. We explored shredder abundance and species richness in six streams in each of two tropical regions, the Australian wet tropics (AWT) and Panama (PAN), finding 734 individuals of 12 shredder species in AWT and 391 individuals of 16 species in PAN. Shredder species richness was positively related to altitude in AWT, but not in PAN. Shredder contribution to total leaf breakdown in the field was 24 ± 3 SE percent in AWT and negligible in PAN, but this was probably due to the unsuccessful colonization of experimental cages by PAN shredders. In the laboratory, shredder contribution to total leaf breakdown was higher than in the field (35% ± 2 SE in AWT and 64% ± 3 SE in PAN) and varied with leaf decomposabiliry. Our results support earlier indications that shredders are not scarce or functionally unimportant in the tropics, and suggest that their contribution to litter processing should be determined along altitudinal gradients.Abstract in Spanish is available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/btp.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local Variation in Shredder Distribution can Explain their Oversight in Tropical Streams

et al. 2009

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“…Nematoda, Oligochaeta, Prostigmata, Chironomidae) is known to be much higher than reported here, but, for the purposes of this exercise, these groups were considered at the functional level because of their shared role in the provision of the two ecosystem services. The dominant leptophlebiid mayflies were Austrophlebioides and Atalophlebia (collector and shredder detritivores, Boyero et al 2006) and all the leptocerid caddisflies collected were shredders (i.e. not the predatory Oecetis).…”

Section: Esps and Their Controls In Lateral Gravel Bars Of A Subtropimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nonetheless, when the roles of environmental variables in controlling rates of ecosystem services can be identified, conservation and management targets are more readily established. Plausibly, these can be done before precise mechanisms are worked out -especially in such poorly known environments as groundwaters -and the responses to management will provide further insights into environmental controls of ecosystem function via adaptive management (Boulton 2005;Seward et al 2006 (Graça et al 2001;Boyero et al 2006). The time-scales over which ESPs and their services operate can vary from less than an hour (e.g.…”

Section: Key Environmental Factors Affecting Esps and Theirmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vannote et al 1980). Although their functional significance varies between streams (Cheshire et al 2005), numerous field and laboratory experiments have demonstrated how environmental factors such as leaf species, diversity and chemical composition, flow, water quality and human impacts affect the diversity, abundance and activity of shredders (Graça et al 2001;Gessner and Chauvet 2002;Boyero et al 2006).…”

Section: Key Environmental Factors Affecting Esps and Theirmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biodiversity, functional roles and ecosystem services of groundwater invertebrates

Boulton

Fenwick

Hancock

et al. 2008

Invert. Systematics

186

135

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Abstract. Recent surveys of groundwater invertebrates (stygofauna) worldwide are yielding rich troves of biodiversity, with significant implications for invertebrate systematists and phylogeneticists as well as ecologists and groundwater managers. What is the ecological significance of this high biodiversity of invertebrates in some aquifers? How might it influence groundwater ecosystem services such as water purification or bioremediation? In terrestrial ecosystems, biodiversity is typically positively correlated with rates of ecosystem functions beneficial to humans (e.g. crop pollination). However, the links between biodiversity, ecosystem function, and ecosystem services in groundwater are unknown. In some aquifers, feeding, movement and excretion by diverse assemblages of stygofauna potentially enhance groundwater ecosystem services such as water purification, bioremediation and water infiltration. Further, as specific taxa apparently play 'keystone' roles in facilitating ecosystem services, declines in abundance or even their extinction have serious repercussions. One way to assess the functional significance of biodiversity is to identify 'ecosystem service providers', characterise their functional relationships, determine how service provision is affected by community structure and environmental variables, and measure the spatio-temporal scales over which these operate. Examples from Australian and New Zealand alluvial aquifers reveal knowledge gaps in understanding the functional importance of most stygofauna, hampering effective protection of currently undervalued groundwater ecosystem services.

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“…The dominance of collector-gatherers could represent an adaptation to highly disturbed enviroments, as suggested by other tropical and subtropical studies (Callisto et al, 2001;Buss et al, 2002;Boyero et al, 2006;Tomanova et al, 2006;Uieda & Motta, 2007). In disturbed streams in terms of discharge, the supply and persistence of a particular food item is very variable.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Effects of anthropogenic impacts on benthic macroinvertebrates assemblages in subtropical mountain streams

Mesa¹,

Reynaga²,

Correa

et al. 2013

Iheringia, Sér. Zool.

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AbstrAct. The nature of the riparian and surrounding landscape has been modified by anthropogenic activities, which may subsequently alter the composition and functional structure of macroinvertebrate assemblages. The effect of these changes on function of benthic fauna is difficult to assess due to the scarce knowledge on functional structures in tropical streams. In this study we evaluate whether sites impacted and unimpacted by anthropogenic alterations differed in assemblage composition and density, richness and diversity of each functional feeding group. The selection of the sites was related to their distinct riparian characteristics, following the QBRy riparian quality index. Collector-gatherer was the dominant functional feeding group, comprising 91% of total density, whereas the proportion of shredders was very low, representing less of 0.5% of total density. Asemblage composition of macroinvertebrates differed between impacted and unimpacted sites. Predators were dominant in taxa number, representing about 60% of total taxa richness. In addition, the diversity and richness of collector-gatherers differed significantly between degraded and unimpacted sites, reflecting the sensitivity of this group to environmental changes and the utility to be used in the assessment of anthropogenic modifications. The results of this study reinforce the idea that riparian corridor management is critical for the distribution of macroinvertebrate assemblages as well as functional organization of lotic streams.KEywords. Anthropogenic changes, Argentina, lotic streams, mountain basin, riparian quality index. rEsumEn. Efecto de los impactos antrópicos sobre los ensambles de macroinvertebrados bentónicos en ríos subtropicales de montaña. Las actividades antrópicas han producido modificaciones en el paisaje ripario y el sistema terrestre adyacente, las cuales causan alteraciones en la composición y estructura funcional de los ensambles de macroinvertebrados. Asimismo, el efecto de estos cambios sobre la estructura funcional de macroinvertebrados es difícil de evaluar debido al escaso conocimiento de este parámetro en ríos tropicales. En este estudio se evaluó si sitios degradados y no degradados por impactos antrópicos diferían en la composición de los ensambles y en la densidad, riqueza y diversidad de cada grupo funcional. La selección de los sitios se relacionó con su calidad riparia, de acuerdo con el índice QBRy. Colectores-recolectores fue el grupo funcional dominante, comprendiendo el 91% de la densidad total, mientras que la proporción de trituradores fue muy baja, representando menos del 0.5% de la densidad total. La composición de los ensambles de macroinvertebrados difirió significativamente entre sitios degradados y de buena calidad riparia. Los predadores fueron dominantes en número de taxones, representando alrededor del 60% de la riqueza de taxones. La diversidad y riqueza de collectores-recolectores fue menor en sitios degradados, reflejando la sensibilidad de este grupo frente a cambios antrópicos. Los resulta...

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Leaf breakdown in tropical streams: the role of different species in ecosystem functioning

Cited by 29 publications

References 30 publications

Local Variation in Shredder Distribution can Explain their Oversight in Tropical Streams

Local Variation in Shredder Distribution can Explain their Oversight in Tropical Streams

Biodiversity, functional roles and ecosystem services of groundwater invertebrates

Effects of anthropogenic impacts on benthic macroinvertebrates assemblages in subtropical mountain streams

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