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Decomposition of cattle manure and colonization by macroinvertebrates in sediment of a wetland of the Middle Paraná River

  • Sediments, Sec 4 • Sediment-Ecology Interactions • Research Article
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Abstract

Purpose

The study was carried out in a wetland of the Middle Paraná River system, Argentina, in order to evaluate the processes associated with the decomposition of manure, which includes changes in chemical composition, nutrient release of manure, and colonization of invertebrates. We also compared the invertebrate assemblage that colonized manure with that present in the benthos of the wetland.

Materials and methods

Nylon bags were filled with fresh cattle manure and anchored to the littoral zone of the wetland. Six bags were collected after 1, 2, 6, 14, 21, 28, 33, 55, and 79 days: three for invertebrate determination and the other three bags for determination of dry mass and chemical analyses. The nutrient content, cellulose, lignin, and total phenolic compounds of manure were determined. In addition, the leachate of manure was collected for nutrient analyses. Samples of the wetland benthic sediment were collected for benthic invertebrate determination and particle size analyses. Spearman rank correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between chemical compounds of manure and breakdown rate. Principal component analysis was used to explore invertebrate assemblage composition of manure and sediment during the experiment.

Results and discussion

Limnodrilus, Dero, and Chironomus were dominant in the manure. Gatherer-collector was the dominant group in the manure, comprising almost 95 % of the total density of invertebrates. Breakdown rate was significantly related with nutrients, cellulose and total phenolics of manure. An ordination plot showed changes in invertebrate assemblages of manure and sediment samples over time.

Conclusions

This study provides new insight on the importance of manure as a substrate for macroinvertebrate colonization. Cattle manure needs to be considered as a potential source of nutrients for aquatic systems and a substrate for invertebrate assemblages.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Andrea Dubois, Alicia Schaller, and Laura Bergero for their field assistance. This research was supported by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Secretaría de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (Santa Fe, SECTeI 2012, N° 2010/103/12) and Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICT 2012 N°0906). The English of the manuscript was reviewed by Language Edit http://www.languageedit.com/

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI-CONICET-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria—Paraje El Pozo, CP 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina

    Leticia M. Mesa, Gisela Mayora, Miguel Saigo, Mercedes Marchese & Federico Giri

  2. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias (UNL), Ciudad Universitaria—Paraje El Pozo, CP 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina

    Cecilia Maldini, Mercedes Marchese & Federico Giri

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  1. Leticia M. Mesa
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  2. Cecilia Maldini
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  3. Gisela Mayora
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  4. Miguel Saigo
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  5. Mercedes Marchese
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  6. Federico Giri
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Correspondence to Leticia M. Mesa.

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Mesa, L.M., Maldini, C., Mayora, G. et al. Decomposition of cattle manure and colonization by macroinvertebrates in sediment of a wetland of the Middle Paraná River. J Soils Sediments 16, 2316–2325 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1465-7

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