Abstract
An experimental approach was taken to examine the processes of detritus decomposition in river sediments.Addition of macrophyte detritus (Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb) to river sediment resultedin an increase in carbon mineralization from a “sbasal” rate of 200 up to 500 mg C m−2 d−1.Carbon mineralization after addition of oak detritus was only slightly higher than mineralization in sediments thatreceived no addition (∼ 200 mg C m−2 d−1). Bacterial biomass and production in sediments \s+ alligator-weedwere higher than in sediments + oak or zero-addition. In these experiments the major fate of addedalligatorweed was mineralization. For alligatorweed detritus, microbial metabolism depletes organic carbonrather than leading to increases in food quality. Therefore, a pulse input of alligatorweed detritus would notbe available as a long-term source of organic carbon. Oak detritus was not rapidly decomposed, and sopersists in these sediments for a longer period.
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Findlay, S., Smith, P.J. & Meyer, J.L. Effect of detritus addition on metabolism of river sediment. Hydrobiologia 137, 257–263 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004239
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004239