Invertebrates, Fungal Biomass, and Leaf Breakdown in Pools and Riffles of Neotropical Streams
| Autor: | Renato Tavares Martins, Roberto da Gama Alves, Lidimara Souza da Silveira, Marcos Pereira Lopes |
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| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
microorganism
0106 biological sciences Insecta Riffle Fauna habitat 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Chironomidae Magnoliopsida aquatic insect Rivers Crustacea Dry season Aquatic insect Animals Biomass Herbivory Invertebrate Biomass (ecology) ergosterol biology 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology fungi Fungi food and beverages leaf decomposition General Medicine biology.organism_classification Plant Leaves Agronomy Insect Science Litter Brazil Research Article |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Insect Science |
| ISSN: | 1536-2442 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/jisesa/iew113 |
| Popis: | We evaluated fungal biomass (as ergosterol concentration) and invertebrate colonization during leaf breakdown of Picramnia sellowii Planch. (Picramniaceae) in pools and riffles of three low-order forested streams in southeastern Brazil. We hypothesized that leaf breakdown will be higher in riffles due to the high physical fragmentation and fungal activity. The experiment was carried out during the dry season of 2012, using 108 litter bags, each containing 3 ± 0.05 g of air-dried leaves. After 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 d of incubation, six litter bags (riffle = 3 and pool = 3) were removed from each stream. Leaf breakdown rate (k) was classified as intermediate in pools and fast in riffles. We recorded similar values of remaining leaf mass in two habitats until 60 d. However, at 90 and 120 d, this process was faster in riffles. The mean fungal biomass was similar between habitats and showed an increase during the experiment at 90 d. Fauna composition differed between habitats and across sampling dates, with Chironomidae most contributing to these differences and being particularly abundant in riffles and in the initial period of leaf breakdown (until 30 d). Shredder abundance and biomass were not different between habitats and among incubation durations. Leaf breakdown (remaining leaf mass) was positively associated with fungal and shredder biomasses. However, water velocity was not related to leaf breakdown. These findings emphasize the importance of fungal and shredder organisms, as well as the low importance of water velocity, on mass loss in low-order tropical streams. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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