The Impacts of Forest Management on Invertebrate Communities Associated with Submerged Leaves in Forested Adirondack Streams

Abstract

We compnrcd seven small (2-6 km2) upland watersheds located in two land-use categories (loggcd and unloggcd) in the Adirondack Park (Ncw York). Watcrsheds were considered logged if thc lands were managcd for timber harvesting, while unlogged watersheds have not becn logged for at least 85 years. Riparian litter species composition and bionlass were estimated for each stream. In-stream leaves were also sampled to assess invertebrate community assemblages and lcaf species composition. Leaf material in loggcd catchments was composed mainly of litter that decomposcs morc quickly and is thus of higher quality to the invcrtebrate consumer (i.e., Acer spp., Populzls tremuloides and Fraxinus nmericana). Leaves in unlogged catchments contained a higher abundance of invcl-tcbrates and detritivorous insccts throughout the year. The results suggest that altcrations to thc invcrtcbratc community rclatcd to land-use may result in differing energy processing rates in loggcd Adirondack watersheds.