Litter decomposition in a mountain cave water

Galas, Joanna; Bednarz, T.; Dumnicka, E.; Starzecka, A.; Wojtan, K.

doi:10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/138/1996/199

Cited by 10 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 8 publications

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“…Litter input is particularly important in systems where autochthonous production is low, thus litter decomposition may be a useful measure of bioassessment in several of those freshwater habitats. To date, most work on litter decomposition has been done in streams, but water tanks in bromeliads (Benavides-Gordillo et al, 2019;Migliorini et al, 2018), caves (Galas et al, 1996;Silva et al, 2013), marshes (Flury & Gessner, 2011), small reservoirs (Colas et al, 2016), and shallow lakes (Alp et al, 2016;Carvalho et al, 2015;Pope et al, 1999) have also been tested for the effects of distinct biotic and abiotic stressors on litter decomposition. For example, Frainer et al (2014) compared decomposition rates between pools and riffles within streams, and found large differences in decomposition rates between the two habitats, which were explained by differences in the benthic invertebrate community composition and phenology (see Sect.…”

Section: Habitat: From Lotic To Lentic Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Litter Decomposition as a Tool for Stream Ecosystem Assessment

Frainer

Bruder

Colas

et al. 2021

The Ecology of Plant Litter Decomposition in Stream Ecosystems

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The decomposition of plant litter in freshwaters is an integrative process involving multiple organism groups and connecting terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. The quantification of leaf litter decomposition has been advocated as an effective indicator of ecosystem functional integrity in the bioassessment of freshwaters. Indeed, variation in litter decomposition rates has been used to detect the impacts of a wide range of anthropogenic disturbances on the functioning of detritus-based food webs in freshwater ecosystems, particularly in streams. However, these assessments have almost exclusively been undertaken as part of research projects, and the application of litter decomposition as a tool in routine biomonitoring remains limited. We evaluate the potential for litter decomposition as a tool for ecosystem assessment by environmental agencies and managers, drawing on insights and experiences from three lines of evidence: (i) a broad selection of published research projects, (ii) an

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Section: Habitat: From Lotic To Lentic Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Litter Decomposition as a Tool for Stream Ecosystem Assessment

Frainer

Bruder

Colas

et al. 2021

The Ecology of Plant Litter Decomposition in Stream Ecosystems

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Food Webs in Caves

Venarsky

Huntsman

2018

Cave Ecology

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The structure and functionality of communities and food webs in streams along the epigean–hypogean continuum: unifying ecological stoichiometry and metabolic theory of ecology

et al. 2021

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Subterranean streams represent unique heterotrophic ecosystems, usually supported by organic matter imported from the surface. Traditionally, the biological communities from subterranean streams were characterised as simple associations, with low diversity and species abundance, comprising mostly aquatic invertebrates connected by few trophic links compared with those of the surface. However, these features have not yet been described in the wider context of fluxes of energy and nutrients through food webs along a gradual switch from autotrophy (dominated by photosynthesis) towards heterotrophy (dominated by detritus) following the surface-subterranean continuum. Combining the most recent predictions of Ecological Stoichiometry and the Metabolic Theory of Ecology, this article provides a theoretical framework aiming to explain the patterns observed along the surface-subterranean continuum in streams. It is predicted that the main factors constraining the structure and functioning of communities and food webs are the decline in the quantity and diversity of basal resources along this gradient, along with nutrients availability in water that affects food quality. With increasing availability of dissolved nutrients in water, sinking-cave streams are hypothesised to fluctuate between being N and/ or P co-limited to C-limited.

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Litter decomposition in a mountain cave water

Cited by 10 publications

References 8 publications

Plant Litter Decomposition as a Tool for Stream Ecosystem Assessment

Plant Litter Decomposition as a Tool for Stream Ecosystem Assessment

Food Webs in Caves

The structure and functionality of communities and food webs in streams along the epigean–hypogean continuum: unifying ecological stoichiometry and metabolic theory of ecology

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