Larch needle breakdown in contrasting streams of an alpine glacial floodplain

被引:24
作者
Robinson, CT
Gessner, MO
Callies, KA
Jolidon, C
Ward, JV
机构
[1] ETH, EAWAG, Dept Limnol, CH-8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland
[2] EAWAG, Dept Limnol, Limnol Res Ctr, CH-6047 Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
[3] Max Planck Inst Limnol, Limnol Flussstn, D-36105 Schlitz, Germany
来源
JOURNAL OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BENTHOLOGICAL SOCIETY | 2000年 / 19卷 / 02期
关键词
Alps; ergosterol decomposition; Larix; aquatic hyphomycetes; kryal; phosphorus; nitrogen;
D O I
10.2307/1468068
中图分类号
Q14 [生态学(生物生态学)];
学科分类号
071012 ; 0713 ;
摘要
Larch (Larex decidua Mill.) is an early successional tree species of glacial sediments and valley side-slopes at treeline in the Swiss Alps. In such areas, the needles from this deciduous conifer are a dominant source of particulate organic matter to springs and streams of glacial floodplains. We examined the breakdown of larch needles in 5 stream types of a glacial floodplain in the Swiss Alps in relation to macroinvertebrates, aquatic fungi, and litter nutrient concentrations. The 5 streams ranged from a physically harsh pro-glacial (kryal) stream that lacked significant input of terrestrially derived particulate organic matter to a stable side-slope springbrook that flowed through a mixed larch/pine forest with alder also present in the riparian zone. We hypothesized that needle breakdown las a surrogate of ecosystem function) would be significantly faster in the springbrook than in the other streams, reflecting differences in macroinvertebrate and fungal assemblages present among streams. Although needle breakdown was generally slow, especially relative to alder leaves, parameters of litter breakdown were indeed higher in the springbrook than in the other streams. Concentrations of nutrients (N and P) found in decomposing needles were 2 to 4x higher in the springbrook than in the other streams. Ergosterol levels (a measure of fungal biomass) in needles were 4x greater in the springbrook than for needles in the kryal and main channel sites. Last, abundances of mac roinvertebrates colonizing needle packs, shredders in particular, were higher in the springbrook and a side-channel site than in the other stream types. The results emphasize the importance of trophic linkages in the successional development and function of lotic ecosystems.
引用
收藏
页码:250 / 262
页数:13
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