Macroinvertebrates colonising leaf litter of contrasting quality in a travertine Mediterranean stream

Vivas, S.; Casas, J. Jesús

doi:10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/154/2002/225

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…In previous studies of detrital dynamics no relationship was evident between rates of leaf litter (CPOM) decomposition and the abundance of macroinvertebrates both in non-precipitating (Meyer, 1980;Stockley et al, 1998) and precipitating streams (Vivas & Casas, 2002). However, the sheer abundance of macroinvertebrates in moss mats (70000-700000 ind/m 2 according to Habdija et al (2004)) could also hinder the deposition of POM.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

The Role of Flow Velocity in the Vertical Distribution of Particulate Organic Matter on Moss-covered Travertine Barriers of the Plitvice Lakes (Croatia)

et al. 2006

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We investigated the distribution patterns of particulate organic matter (POM) on travertine barriers in respect to flow velocity. Research was conducted on the barrage-lake system of the Plitvice Lakes, Croatia. Four layers were distinguished within the substrate (moss mat + three travertine layers) in three hydraulic habitats at three sites. Substrate samples were collected monthly with a core sampler. The aim of the study was to explore the ability of moss mats and travertine substrate to accumulate POM; to ascertain the role of flow velocity and to produce a model of POM distribution pattern. The average of POM deposited in the 10 cm deep zone decreased significantly in the three sites along longitudinal profile of the system. Most POM was deposited in the moss mats, and the amounts decreased exponentially with depth. This was observed for coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM), ultra-fine particulate organic matter (UPOM) and total organic matter (TPOM) while fine organic matter (FPOM) deposition appeared unaffected by depth. More POM was accumulated in hydraulic habitats of low flow velocity. Correlation between flow velocity and POM accumulation was generally negative. Positive correlations between flow velocity and deposition rates were noted for CPOM in moss mats and top travertine layers; the deposition of other POM fractions was negatively influenced by the flow velocity. The influence of flow velocity decreased with increasing depth. In the deepest layers (7-10 cm) flow velocity influenced only the deposition of the smallest particles (UPOM).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

The Role of Flow Velocity in the Vertical Distribution of Particulate Organic Matter on Moss-covered Travertine Barriers of the Plitvice Lakes (Croatia)

et al. 2006

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“…Several studies investigated the breakdown of leaf litter in karst systems where tufa precipitates (CASAS and GESSNER 1999;VIVAS and CASAS, 2002;CASAS et al, 2006;CARTER and MARKS, 2007). These studies reported contradictory results: CARTER and MARKS (2007) reported significantly faster breakdown at the tufa site than at the site without tufa precipitation, while CASAS and GESSNER (1999) found tufa precipitation to impair decomposition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Flow Velocity Effect on Leaf Litter Breakdown in Tufa Depositing System (Plitvice Lakes, Croatia)

Belančić¹,

Kepčija

Miliša

et al. 2009

International Review of Hydrobiology

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Considerable amount of riparian leaf litter is annually supplied to the cascade Plitvice Lakes and trapped on tufa barriers where it decays together with aquatic macrophytes. These barriers are the sites of heavy calcite precipitation that can widely differ in terms of current velocity. We conducted a leafbag experiment at sites differing in flow velocity and tufa deposition rate. Decomposition of Petasites spp. and Fagus sylvatica was higher under high current (0.80 m/s) and high tufa deposition areas than in low current (< 0.20 m/s) and low tufa deposition areas (k = 0.085 vs. 0.021 for Petasites spp. and 0.009 vs. 0.002 for Fagus sylvatica). We concluded that although tufa deposition could interfere with decomposition by obstructing physical abrasion and also restricting microbial conditioning, thin calcite crusts developed on the surface of the leaves made them more fragile and thus accelerated their decomposition. High current velocity probably magnified this effect by supporting higher tufa deposition and coarser type of tufa fabrics. IntroductionLeaf litter processing in aquatic ecosystems involves a sequence of processes, from the dissolution of labile organic compounds (leaching), microbial conditioning to mechanical fragmentation by macroinvertebrates (WEBSTER and BENFIELD, 1986) and physical abrasion BOULTON and BOON (1991), especially by current velocity. The rate of litter breakdown is determined by intrinsic differences among leaves, a number of environmental variables, and the feeding activity of detrivores (e.g., ALLAN, 1995;DANGLES and CHAUVET, 2003; FER-REIRA et al., 2006;LEROY and MARKS, 2006;CARTER and MARKS, 2007).Several studies investigated the breakdown of leaf litter in karst systems where tufa precipitates (CASAS and GESSNER 1999;VIVAS and CASAS, 2002;CASAS et al., 2006;CARTER and MARKS, 2007). These studies reported contradictory results: CARTER and MARKS (2007) reported significantly faster breakdown at the tufa site than at the site without tufa precipitation, while CASAS and GESSNER (1999) found tufa precipitation to impair decomposition.

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“…In forested, perennial karst streams, the input of leaf litter could be a critical resource for the animal communities, as suggested for headwaters (Casas & Gessner, 1999). However, studies were carried out mainly in temperate regions (Vivas & Casas, 2002). In this study, we evaluated patterns of macroinvertebrate colonization during leaf litter decomposition in a tropical river.…”

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confidence: 98%

Macroinvertebrate succession during leaf litter breakdown in a perennial karstic river in Western Brazil

2006

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Leaf litter is a major basal resource to stream ecosystems, but few studies addressed their role in karst systems, mainly in intermittent springs and lakes. Patterns of resource use in perennial rivers are poorly known, although the input of leaf litter strongly influences macroinvertebrate assemblage structure. In this study, we evaluated the structure of macroinvertebrate assemblages along the decomposition of leaf litter in a tropical karst river, using leaf litter cages made of coarse nylon mesh (25 mm) to allow colonization by macroinvertebrates. The experiment was followed weekly for 10 weeks. The assemblages were dominated by snails (90.5% of total fauna), hyalellid amphipods, and larval chironomid midges, with highest abundances in the intermediate stages of the experiment, resulting in a gradient in assemblage structure. The large abundance of snails, which are common in other karst systems, suggest that this group may have an important role in decomposer food webs, facilitating or directly contributing to leaf breakdown.

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Macroinvertebrates colonising leaf litter of contrasting quality in a travertine Mediterranean stream

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

The Role of Flow Velocity in the Vertical Distribution of Particulate Organic Matter on Moss-covered Travertine Barriers of the Plitvice Lakes (Croatia)

The Role of Flow Velocity in the Vertical Distribution of Particulate Organic Matter on Moss-covered Travertine Barriers of the Plitvice Lakes (Croatia)

Flow Velocity Effect on Leaf Litter Breakdown in Tufa Depositing System (Plitvice Lakes, Croatia)

Macroinvertebrate succession during leaf litter breakdown in a perennial karstic river in Western Brazil

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