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Litter breakdown among intermittently connected and unconnected geographically isolated Wetlands: how nutrient inputs alter wetland function

  • Wetland Biogeochemistry
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Abstract

Geographically isolated wetlands (GIWs) comprise a significant portion of the wetlands in the U.S., connecting to surrounding landscapes in varying ways and providing diverse ecosystem functions. Understanding the consequences of wetland connections across space and time are crucial in understanding GIW function. We compared nutrient concentrations, litter breakdown, and associated macroinvertebrate communities from 2018 to 2019 in three wetlands connected by an intermittent flow path to agricultural fields, to three unconnected GIWs. Litter bags were constructed of two mesh sizes to reduce macroinvertebrate abundances. We observed increased breakdown with greater connection to agricultural fields, likely the result of increased nutrients such as phosphorus enhancing microbial activity. Enhanced breakdown in the connected wetlands was transient, varying between years and the degree of connection. While water quality measures did not consistently show increased nutrient levels across all connected wetlands, lower litter N:P within connected wetlands provided a broader look at nutrient subsidies. Macroinvertebrate abundance was greater in connected wetlands when connection occurred and shredder abundance was greater later during breakdown, however high variability obscured any pattern with breakdown rates. Comparing litter decomposition rates in our study to previous studies, we note that our connected wetlands functioned more similarly to flowing waters while the unconnected wetlands functioned like discrete wetlands. Future climate predictions indicate increased winter rainfall for this region which will increase the degree and frequency of hydrologic connection and associated nutrient transport. Understanding how the extent of connection alters wetland function is important in understanding the roles wetlands play in landscape ecosystem function.

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The data is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the following people for assisting in field and laboratory work: Bryan Cloninger, Wesley Giddens, Morgan Burchfiel, Molly McGuigan and Jillian Hochstrasser. We thank Arial Shogren and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. Funding was provided by the Jones Center at Ichauway.

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by The Jones Center at Ichauway.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Jones Center at Ichauway, 39870, Newton, Georgia, USA

    Chelsea R. Smith, Stephen W. Golladay & Brian A. Clayton

  2. The University of Alabama, 35487, Tuscaloosa, Chelsea, AL, USA

    Chelsea R. Smith & Carla L. Atkinson

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  1. Chelsea R. Smith
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CS, SG, BC conceptualized and designed the study. CS and BC collected data. CS analyzed data. CS, SG and CA wrote the manuscript. All authors read, edited and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Chelsea R. Smith.

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Smith, C.R., Golladay, S.W., Atkinson, C.L. et al. Litter breakdown among intermittently connected and unconnected geographically isolated Wetlands: how nutrient inputs alter wetland function. Wetlands 42, 57 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-022-01567-1

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