INVERTEBRATE COLONIZATION AND PROCESSING OF MAPLE LEAF LITTER IN A FORESTED AND AN AGRICULTURAL REACH OF A STREAM

被引:45
作者
BIRD, GA [1 ]
KAUSHIK, NK [1 ]
机构
[1] UNIV GUELPH,DEPT ENVIRONM BIOL,GUELPH N1G 2W1,ONTARIO,CANADA
关键词
STREAMS; LITTER; LITTER PROCESSING; INVERTEBRATES;
D O I
10.1007/BF00010862
中图分类号
Q17 [水生生物学];
学科分类号
071004 ;
摘要
Processing of maple leaf (Acer saccharum Marsh) packs, their colonization by invertebrates and nutrient dynamics in leaves were investigated in a forested reach and agricultural reach of Canagagigue Creek, Ontario. Shredders, Pycnopsyche, and collectors, Ephemerella subvaria, Stenonema vicarium and Baetis were significantly more numerous in packs at the forest site than in packs at the agricultural site, whereas filter feeders, especially blackflies, were significantly more numerous in packs at the agricultural site. Weight loss of litter packs was nearly equivalent at the two sites. However, there were major differences in the mechanism of processing between the sites. Physical abrasion and microbial activity governed weight loss of maple leaf packs at the agricultural site, whereas processing was governed mainly by microbial and invertebrate activity and, to a much lesser extent, by physical abrasion at the forest site. Both shredders and collector species played an important role in the processing of leaf material at the forest site. Greater uptake of N and P (P < 0.05 in spring) and higher C concentrations were observed in leaf packs at the forest site than the agricultural site. Therefore, the results support the concept of retention of nutrients in forested areas and their export in deforested (agricultural) areas. Findings also indicated that the processing of leaf litter is not an efficient means of monitoring changes in stream ecosystems since leaf processing is affected by many factors, particularly physical abrasion.
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页码:65 / 77
页数:13
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