Abstract
The effects of leaf leachates derived from six forest trees on algal biomass development was examined in a 3-week experiment in a New Zealand spring. The trees all occur in riparian zones and were Fagus sylvatica and Alnus glutinosa from Europe, Eucalyptus globulus from Australia, Pinus radiata from western North America, and two New Zealand species, Fuchsia excorticata and Nothofagus solandri. Leachates from five species inhibited algal growth relative to controls, whereas leachate from a sixth species (F. excorticata) was stimulatory. In contrast, cellulose breakdown was unaffected by five leachates and inhibited by the other (F. sylvatica). In a second experiment, colonization of leaves and inert substrata (polythene strips) by algae was examined with SEM after 16 days. Algal abundance was greatest on polythene strips and leaves of F. sylvatica, and substantially lower on the other species. Our results indicate that both leaf texture and chemical composition can affect algal colonization and growth, and that chemicals derived from leaves have the potential to both inhibit and stimulate ecosystem processes in streams.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arsuffi, T. L. & K. Suberkropp, 1989. Selective feeding by shredders on leaf-colonizing stream fungi: comparison of macroinvertebrate taxa. Oecologia 79: 30–37.
Bärlocher, F., 1985. The role of fungi in the nutrition of stream invertebrates. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 91: 83–94.
Campbell, I. C., R. R. James, B. T. Hart & A. Devereaux, 1992. Allochthonous coarse particulate organic material in forest and pasture reaches of two south-eastern Australian streams II. Litter processing. Freshwat. Biol. 27: 353–365.
Death, R. G., 1991. Environmental stability: its effect on stream benthic communities. PhD thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch.
Gessner, M. O., 1991. Differences in processing dynamics of fresh and dried leaf litter in a stream ecosystem. Freshwat. Biol. 26: 387–398.
Gessner, M. O. & M. Dobson, 1993. Colonisation of fresh and dried leaf litter by lotic macroinvertebrates. Arch. Hydrobiol. 127: 141–149.
Gosz, J. R., G. E. Likens & F. H. Bormann, 1973. Nutrient release from decomposing leaf and branch litter in the Hubbard Brook Forest, New Hampsire. Ecol. Monogr. 43: 173–191.
Linklater, W. & M. J. Winterbourn, 1993. Life histories and production of two trichopteran shredders in New Zealand streams with different riparian vegetation. N.Z. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 27: 61–70.
McDowell, W. H. & S. G. Fisher, 1976. Autumnal processing of dissolved organic matter in a small woodland stream ecosystem. Ecology 57: 561–569.
Pillinger, J. M., J. A. Cooper & I. Ridge, 1994. Role of phenolic compounds in the antialgal activity of barley straw. J. Chem. Ecol. 20: 1557–1569.
Ribéreau-Gayon, P., 1972. Plant Phenolics. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, xi + 201 pp.
Ridge, I., J. Pillinger & J. Walters, 1995. Alleviating the problems of excessive algal growth. In: Harper D. M. & A. J. D. Ferguson (eds), The ecological basis for river management, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester: 211–218.
Rounick, J. S. & Winterbourn, M. J., 1983. The formation and utilization of stone surface organic layers in two New Zealand streams. Freshwat. Biol. 13: 57–72.
Sridhar, K. R. & F. Bärlocher, 1993. Seasonal changes in microbial colonization of fresh and dried leaves. Arch. Hydrobiol. 128: 1–12.
Søndergaard, M. & B. Riemann, 1979. Ferskvandsbiologiske analysemetoder (in Danish). Akademisk Forlag, Copenhagen.
Stout, R. J., 1989. Effects of condensed tannins on leaf processing in mid latitude and tropical streams: a theoretical approach. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 46: 1097–1106.
Tank, J. L. & M. J. Winterbourn, 1996. Microbial activity and invertebrate colonisation of wood in a New Zealand forest stream. N.Z. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 30: 271–280.
Welch, I. M., P. R. F. Barrett, M. T. Gibson & I. Ridge, 1990. Barley straw as an inhibitor of algal growth I: studies in the Chesterfield Canal. J. appl. Phycol. 2: 231–239.
Winterbourn, M. J., 1976. Fluxes of litter falling into a small beech forest stream. N.Z. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 10: 399–416.
Winterbourn, M. J. & A. Fegley, 1989. Effects of nutrient enrichment and grazing on periphyton assemblages in some spring-fed, South Island streams. N. Z. Nat. Sci. 16: 57–65.
Winterbourn, M. J., 1990. Interactions among nutrients, algae and invertebrates in a New Zealand mountain stream. Freshwat. Biol. 23: 463–474.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Friberg, N., Winterbourn, M.J. Interactions between riparian leaves and algal/microbial activity in streams. Hydrobiologia 341, 51–56 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00012302
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00012302