Litter Decomposition

  • C. T. Robinson
  • M. O. Gessner
Chapter
Part of the Aquatic Ecology Series book series (AQEC, volume 1)

Abstract

Leaf breakdown is considered a pivotal process in the metabolism of stream ecosystems (Webster et al, 1995; Wallace et al., 1997), providing important information on stream functioning (nutrient cycling and energy flow). Analyses of decomposing litter also inform us about the distribution and abundance (structure) of stream biota such as fungi, bacteria, invertebrates, and fish. Leaf breakdown is caused by the joint action of physical factors causing mechanical fragmentation, the activity of detritivorous macroinvertebrates (shredders), and the activity of microorganisms such as aquatic fungi and bacteria (Hieber & Gessner, 2002). Although unimportant in the streams of the upper Roseg catchment, fish also can play an important functional role in the litter dynamics of low elevation streams, tropical streams in particular (Flecker, 1996). In concert with various chemical changes, micro-organisms cause transformations in litter quality (e. g., increases in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations) that influence decomposition dynamics (Webster & Benfield, 1986; Gessner et al., 1999).

Keywords

Flood Plain Stream Type Leaf Pack Aquatic Hyphomycetes North American Benthological Society 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Bärlocher, F. (1992). Effects of drying and freezing autumn leaves on leaching and colonization by aquatic hyphomycetes. Freshwater Biology, 28, 1–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. Burgherr, P., & Ward, J. V. (2000). Zoobenthos of kryal and lake outlet biotopes in a glacial flood plain. Verhandlungen der Internationalen Vereinigung für Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie, 27, 1587–1590.Google Scholar
  3. Cummins, K. W., & Klug, M. J. (1979). Feeding ecology of stream invertebrates. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 10, 147–172.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Flecker, A. S. (1996). Ecosystem engineering by a dominant detritivore in a diverse tropical stream. Ecology, 77, 1845–1854.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Gessner, M.O. (1997). Fungal biomass, production and sporulation associated with particulate organic matter in streams. Limnetica, 13, 33–44.Google Scholar
  6. Gessner, M. O., & Chauvet, E. (1994). Importance of stream microfungi in controlling breakdown rates of leaf litter. Ecology, 75, 1807–1817.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Gessner, M. O., Dobson, M., & Chauvet, E. (1999). A perspective on leaf litter breakdown in streams. Oikos, 85, 377–384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Gessner, M. O., Robinson, C. T., & Ward, J. V. (1998). Leaf breakdown in streams of an alpine glacial floodplain: dynamics of fungi and nutrients. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 17, 403–419.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Gessner, M. O., & Schmitt, A. L. (1996). Use of solid-phase extraction to determine ergosterol concentrations in plant tissue colonized by fungi. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 62, 415–419.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  10. Hieber, M., & Gessner, M. O. (2002). Contribution of stream detritivores, fungi, and bacteria to leaf breakdown based on biomass estimates. Ecology, 83, 1026–1038.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Iqbal, S. H., Bhatty, S.F., & Malik, K. S. (1980). Freshwater hyphomycetes on submerged decaying pine needles in Pakistan. Transactions of the Mycological Society of Japan, 21, 321–327.Google Scholar
  12. Mayack, D. T., Thorp, J. H., & Cothran, M. 1989. Effects of burial and floodplain retention on stream processing of allochthonous litter. Oikos, 54, 378–388.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. Robinson, C. T., Gessner, M. O., & Ward, J. V. (1998). Leaf breakdown and associated macroinvertebrates in alpine glacial streams. Freshwater Biology, 40, 215–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. Robinson, C. T., Gessner, M. O., Callies, K. A., Jolidon, C., & Ward, J. V. (2000). Larch needle breakdown in contrasting streams of an alpine glacial floodplain. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 19, 250–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Rosset, J., Bärlocher, F., & Oertli, J. J. (1982). Decomposition of conifer needles and deciduous leaves in two Black Forest and two Swiss Jura streams. Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie, 67, 695–711.Google Scholar
  16. Short, R. A., Canton, S. P., & Ward, J. V. (1980). Detrital processing and associated macroinvertebrates in a Colorado mountain stream. Ecology, 61, 727–732.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. Suberkropp, K. (1992). Interactions with invertebrates. In F. Bärlocher (Ed.). The ecology of aquatic hyphomycetes (pp. 120–143). Berlin: Springer.Google Scholar
  18. Tockner, K., Malard, F., Burgherr, P., Robinson, C. T., Uehlinger, U., Zah, R., & Ward, J. V. (1997). Physico-chemical characterization of channel types in glacial floodplain ecosystem (Val Roseg, Switzerland). Archiv für Hydrobiologie, 140, 433–463.Google Scholar
  19. Wallace, J. B., Eggert, S. L., Meyer, J. L., & Webster, J. R. (1997). Multiple trophic levels for a forested stream linked to terrestrial litter inputs. Science, 277, 102–104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Webster, J. R., & Benfield, E. F. (1986). Vascular plant breakdown in freshwater ecosystems. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 17, 567–594.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. Webster, J. R., & Meyer, J. L. (eds). (1997). Stream organic matter budgets. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 16, 3–161.Google Scholar
  22. Webster, J. R., Wallace, J. B., & Benfield, E. F. (1995). Organic processes in streams of the eastern United States. In C. E. Cushing, G. W. Minshall & K. W. Cummins (Eds.). Ecosystems of the world 22: River and Stream Ecosystems (pp. 117–187). Amsterdam: Elsevier.Google Scholar
  23. Weyers, H. S., & Suberkropp, K. (1996). Fungal and bacterial production during the breakdown of yellow poplar leaves in 2 streams. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 15, 408–420.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. Wieder, R. K., & Lang, G. E. (1982). A critique of the analytical methods used in examining decomposition data obtained from litter bags. Ecology, 63, 1636–1642.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Zah, R., & Uehlinger, U. (2001). Particulate organic matter inputs to a glacial stream ecosystem in the Swiss Alps. Freshwater Biology, 46, 1597–1608.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2003

Authors and Affiliations

  • C. T. Robinson
  • M. O. Gessner

There are no affiliations available

Personalised recommendations