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Temporal and Spatial Patterns in Inputs and Stock of Organic Matter in Savannah Streams of Central Brazil

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Abstract

Coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) inputs from riparian vegetation into streams and CPOM benthic stock vary naturally in space and time, but most studies in the tropical savannah (Cerrado) have been done over a small temporal scale (<1 year), which does not allow for the determination of inter-annual patterns. We found that CPOM collected over two years differed temporally and spatially, whereas there was no significant variation between years for the benthic stock, which indicates high stability in the energy balance of streams. The largest monthly inputs occurred between August and October, at the end of the dry season and the onset of the rainy season, which was partially explained by precipitation. Other factors such as photoperiod, which was not studied, could also have important roles in this pattern. Spatial differences in CPOM between streams were attributed to topography and channel morphology. The plant density was lowest in the stream with a more irregular topography and a deeper channel, which results in drier riparian soil. The benthic stock was highest in the stream with a flat channel, where the lower water speed facilitates the accumulation of CPOM in the stream bed. Inter-annual differences in CPOM were attributed more to the differences in the beginning of the dry and wet periods between years than to the average values of precipitation. Longer-term studies are needed to clarify this temporal pattern.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to PROCAD-NF/CAPES (No. 173/2010), CAPES/Edital PNADB/2009 (No. 1098/2010), MCTI/CNPq No. 14/2013—Universal/Universal 14/2013 (No. 471767/2013-1), CNPq/Bolsas PQ (No. 302957/2014-6) MCTI/PELD/CNPq (No. 558233/2009-0), MCTI/CNPq/CT-AGRO/CT-SAÚDE/CT-HIDRO (No. 37/2013), MCT/CNPq/FNDCT/FAPs/MEC/CAPES/PRO-CENTRO-OESTE (No. 031/2010), EMBRAPA/Edital Chamada 01/2011, FAP-DF/Edital 03/2015 (No. 193.000.870/2015), FAPEMIG (No. APQ-00274-12), financial support in the form of funding (DPP; No. 121366/2011) and a PhD scholarship provided by the Post-Graduate Program in Ecology from the University of Brasília, the strategic project UID/MAR/04292/2013 granted to MARE, CAPES for the grant provided through the programme Ciência Sem Fronteiras/Atração de Jovens Talento, and to the Program of Ecology and Conservation from the State University of Mato Grosso in Nova Xavantina-MT (CAPES/PNPD) for offering a post-doctoral scholarship to Dr. Renan Rezende. Finally, we would like to express our special gratitude to the entire group of Aquariparia for their massive support throughout this study.

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  1. Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, 70910-900, Brazil

    Paulino Bambi, Gustavo Figueiredo Marques Leite, Elisa Alvin, José Maurício Brandão Quintão, Fernanda Araújo & José Francisco Gonçalves Júnior

  2. Universidade Estadual do Mato Grosso Campus Nova Xavantina, Nova Xavantina, Mato grosso, 78.690-000, Brazil

    Renan de Souza Rezende

  3. Department of Life Sciences, MARE-Marine and Environmental Research Centre, University of Coimbra, 3004-517, Coimbra, Portugal

    Maria João Feio

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  1. Paulino Bambi
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Correspondence to Paulino Bambi.

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PB analyzed data, performed research, and wrote the paper; RSR and JFGJr. conceived of designed study, analyzed data, and wrote the paper; MJF analyzed data and wrote the paper; JMQ, EA, FA, and GFML performed research and wrote the paper.

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Bambi, P., de Souza Rezende, R., Feio, M.J. et al. Temporal and Spatial Patterns in Inputs and Stock of Organic Matter in Savannah Streams of Central Brazil. Ecosystems 20, 757–768 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-016-0058-z

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