Preconditioning of leaves by solar radiation and anoxia affects microbial colonisation and rate of leaf mass loss in an intermittent stream

Dieter, Daniela; Frindte, Katharina; Krüger, Angela; Wurzbacher, Christian

doi:10.1111/fwb.12180

Cited by 24 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 60 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Some studies have shown that during flow reduction, the communities of aquatic hyphomycetes can experience a shift in fungal richness and composition and alterations in their enzymatic activity, such as summer drying conditions inhibiting lignocellulolytic enzyme activities [10,15,16]. These changes in the communities of aquatic hyphomycetes coupled to changes in the abiotic conditions of streams under flow reduction (e.g., decreasing the dissolved oxygen content and increasing the water temperature and conductivity) are expected to affect organic matter decomposition and the feeding links to higher trophic levels [17,18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quality and quantity of leaf litter: Both are important for feeding preferences and growth of an aquatic shredder

Arias-Real¹,

Menéndez²,

Abril³

et al. 2018

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The study of leaf litter as a resource for shredders has emerged as a key topic in trophic links in ecology. However, thus far, most studies have emphasized the leaf quality as one of the main determinants of shredder behaviour and growth without simultaneously considering the leaf quantity availability. Nevertheless, the combined effects of leaf quantity and quality on shredder behaviour and growth is particularly crucial to further understand how ecosystem functioning may respond to the increasing flow intermittency due to climate change. In this study, we explore how changes in the leaf litter quality and quantity influence the feeding preferences and growth of an invertebrate shredder (Potamophylax latipennis). To do so, we used black poplar leaves conditioned in two streams with different flow regimens as a food resource. Afterwards, using a microcosm approach, we offered leaf discs that varied in terms of leaf quantity and quality to P. latipennis. Our results showed that flow intermittency had a negative effect on the quality of the food resource, and a lower quality had a negative effect on the consumption and growth rates of P. latipennis. Furthermore, we found that P. latipennis fed selectively on higher quality leaves even though the availability (quantity) of this resource was lower. In the context of climate change, with higher aridity/drier conditions/scenarios, our findings suggest that a decrease in the availability (quantity) of high-quality resources could potentially threaten links in global fluvial food webs and thus threaten ecosystem functioning.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quality and quantity of leaf litter: Both are important for feeding preferences and growth of an aquatic shredder

Arias-Real¹,

Menéndez²,

Abril³

et al. 2018

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Leaching loss during the initial stages of decomposition essentially sets the trajectory of mass loss in aquatic ecosystems (Treplin & Zimmer, 2012), and leaves in upstream sites lost significantly more mass due to leaching during the initial 24 h of the study compared to the other sites. Previous work in intermittent systems has demonstrated that exposure to dry conditions and solar radiation appeared to be a more important control over leaching in leaves that are inconsistently wet (Fellman, Petrone & Grierson, 2013), while these same conditions negatively impact microbial degradation and overall mass loss on drier material (Bruder, Chauvet & Gessner, 2011;Dieter et al, 2013).…”

Section: Influence Of Water Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental reductions in stream flow alter litter processing and consumer subsidies in headwater streams

Northington

Webster

2017

Freshwater Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary Forested headwater streams are connected to their surrounding catchments by a reliance on terrestrial subsidies. Changes in precipitation patterns and stream flow represent a potential disruption in stream ecosystem function, as the delivery of terrestrial detritus to aquatic consumers and downstream transport are compromised. The potential effect of drying on decomposition is critical to understanding ecosystem processes in these detritus‐driven ecosystems. In this study, we experimentally altered stream connectivity to examine how altered water availability would influence litter decomposition. We used three catchments in the Coweeta Hydrologic Lab in North Carolina, U.S.A., establishing sites that were always wet, intermediately wet and completely terrestrial, while also experimentally diverting significant surface flow from downstream locations for several months. The flow manipulation significantly reduced the amount of water available to the three study reaches, leading to drastic changes in organic matter accumulation. Stream temperature and dissolved oxygen changed during the manipulation but only in response to season. Nutrient concentrations remained low or below detection during the experiment, demonstrating no response to the manipulation. Red maple and white oak demonstrated significantly different mass loss during the first few days of the experiment, but by the completion of the experiment, location was a more significant determinant of breakdown rate than leaf identity. Leaves placed in sites that were consistently wet decomposed at a higher rate than those in bank or terrestrial sites. Initially, leaf decomposition varied significantly based on site type and presence of water, which led to disruptions in microbial and macroinvertebrate colonisation and processing. High flows during large winter storms reconnected dried reaches and stimulated rates of decomposition due to colonisation by microbes and macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrate densities tracked microbial biomass accumulation on leaves, but were dependent upon location. Leaves in the manipulated reaches had significantly higher macroinvertebrate densities compared to the upstream control in the winter and spring in response to the delayed wetting of large standing stocks of leaves and subsequent colonisation by microbes. Our study demonstrated that even minor disruptions in stream connectivity at key times of the year have community‐ and ecosystem‐level influences that alter decomposition. The resilience of these ecosystems will depend on the frequency of disturbances and the ability of organisms to adapt to changing resource conditions.

show abstract

“…eutrophication, mass mortality of aquatic organisms) in downstrean receiving waters and groundwater (Baldwin & Mitchell, 2000;Bernal et al, 2013;Cavanaugh, Richardson, Strauss, & Bartsch, 2006;Hladyz et al, 2011;Ocampo, Oldham, Sivapalan, & Turner, 2006). Substrate moisture content and variability in associated microbial communities can potentially be responsible for the unexplained part of the variance in the leachates, due to their effect on decomposition rates of accumulated CPOM, nutrient processing in sediments, release of DOM upon rewetting, and its modification by microbial communities (Abril et al, 2016;Arce et al, 2015;Dieter, Frindte, Krüger, & Wurzbacher, 2013;McIntyre, Adams, Ford, & Grierson, 2009;Meisner, Leizeaga, Rousk, & Bååth, 2017).…”

Section: Environmental Variables Correlated With Release Of Nutrienmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating rewetting events in intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams: A global analysis of leached nutrients and organic matter

Shumilova

Zak

Datry

et al. 2019

Global Change Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Climate change and human pressures are changing the global distribution and the extent of intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES), which comprise half of the global river network area. IRES are characterized by periods of flow cessation, during which channel substrates accumulate and undergo physico‐chemical changes (preconditioning), and periods of flow resumption, when these substrates are rewetted and release pulses of dissolved nutrients and organic matter (OM). However, there are no estimates of the amounts and quality of leached substances, nor is there information on the underlying environmental constraints operating at the global scale. We experimentally simulated, under standard laboratory conditions, rewetting of leaves, riverbed sediments, and epilithic biofilms collected during the dry phase across 205 IRES from five major climate zones. We determined the amounts and qualitative characteristics of the leached nutrients and OM, and estimated their areal fluxes from riverbeds. In addition, we evaluated the variance in leachate characteristics in relation to selected environmental variables and substrate characteristics. We found that sediments, due to their large quantities within riverbeds, contribute most to the overall flux of dissolved substances during rewetting events (56%–98%), and that flux rates distinctly differ among climate zones. Dissolved organic carbon, phenolics, and nitrate contributed most to the areal fluxes. The largest amounts of leached substances were found in the continental climate zone, coinciding with the lowest potential bioavailability of the leached OM. The opposite pattern was found in the arid zone. Environmental variables expected to be modified under climate change (i.e. potential evapotranspiration, aridity, dry period duration, land use) were correlated with the amount of leached substances, with the strongest relationship found for sediments. These results show that the role of IRES should be accounted for in global biogeochemical cycles, especially because prevalence of IRES will increase due to increasing severity of drying events.

show abstract

Preconditioning of leaves by solar radiation and anoxia affects microbial colonisation and rate of leaf mass loss in an intermittent stream

Cited by 24 publications

References 60 publications

Quality and quantity of leaf litter: Both are important for feeding preferences and growth of an aquatic shredder

Quality and quantity of leaf litter: Both are important for feeding preferences and growth of an aquatic shredder

Experimental reductions in stream flow alter litter processing and consumer subsidies in headwater streams

Simulating rewetting events in intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams: A global analysis of leached nutrients and organic matter

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About