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Invasive Salix fragilis alters benthic invertebrate communities and litter decomposition in northern Patagonian streams

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Abstract

Invasion by exotic trees into riparian areas has the potential to impact aquatic systems. We examined the effects of the exotic Salix fragilis (crack willow) on the structure and functioning of small streams in northern Patagonian Andes via a field survey of benthic invertebrates and leaf litter and an in situ experiment. We compared leaf decomposition of the native Ochetophila trinervis (chacay) and S. fragilis in reaches dominated by native vegetation versus reaches dominated by crack willow. We hypothesized that S. fragilis affects the quality of leaf litter entering the streams, changing the aquatic biota composition and litter decomposition. Our study showed that crack willow leaves decomposed slower than chacay, likely related to leaf properties (i.e., leaf toughness). Benthic leaf litter mass was similar between the two riparian vegetation types, though in stream reaches dominated by crack willow, leaves of this species represented 82% of the total leaf litter. Benthic invertebrate abundance and diversity were similar between reaches but species composition differed. Our study found little evidence for strong impacts of crack willow on those small streams. Further studies on other aspects of ecosystem functioning, such as primary production, would enhance our understanding of the impacts of crack willow on Patagonian streams.

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Acknowledgments

We thank NHNP rangers Ramiro Araoz and Alejandro Arzubiaga for information provided in the area and Dr. Jim Elser and Mónica Elser for the critical review of the manuscript. María Noel Serra received an undergraduate student scholarship from the NHNP administration. Research was done at the Laboratorio de Limnología, INIBIOMA with funds from PIP 1702 and PICT 1747.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GEA, INIBIOMA-CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, 8400, Bariloche, Argentina

    María Noel Serra

  2. Lab. Fotobiología, INIBIOMA-CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, 8400, Bariloche, Argentina

    Ricardo Albariño

  3. Lab. Limnología, INIBIOMA-CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, 8400, Bariloche, Argentina

    Verónica Díaz Villanueva

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  1. María Noel Serra
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  2. Ricardo Albariño
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  3. Verónica Díaz Villanueva
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Correspondence to María Noel Serra.

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Serra, M.N., Albariño, R. & Díaz Villanueva, V. Invasive Salix fragilis alters benthic invertebrate communities and litter decomposition in northern Patagonian streams. Hydrobiologia 701, 173–188 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1270-2

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