Multiple stressors affecting microbial decomposer and litter decomposition in restored urban streams: Assessing effects of salinization, increased temperature, and reduced flow velocity in a field mesocosm experiment.

A multitude of anthropogenic stressors impact biological communities and ecosystem processes in urban streams. Prominent among them are salinization, increased temperature, and altered flow regimes, all of which can affect microbial decomposer communities and litter decomposition, a fundamental ecosystem process in streams. Impairments caused by these stressors individually or in combination and recovery of communities and ecosystem processes after release from these stressors are not well understood. To improve our understanding of multiple stressors impacts we performed an outdoor stream mesocosm experiment with 64 experimental units to assess the response of microbial litter decomposers and decomposition. The three stressors we applied in a full-factorial design were increased salinity (NaCl addition, 0.53 mS cm-1 above ambient), elevated temperature (3.5 °C above ambient), and reduced flow velocity (3.5 vs 14.2 cm s-1). After two weeks of stressor exposure (first sampling) and two subsequent weeks of recovery (second sampling), we determined leaf-associated microbial respiration, fungal biomass, and the sporulation activity and community composition of aquatic hyphomycetes in addition to decomposition rates of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) leaves confined in fine-mesh litter bags. Microbial colonization of the litter was accompanied by significant mass loss in all mesocosms. However, there was little indication that mass loss, microbial respiration, fungal biomass, sporulation rate or community composition of aquatic hyphomycetes was strongly affected by either single stressors or their interactions. Two exceptions were temperature effects on sporulation and decomposition rate. Similarly, no notable differences among mesocosms were observed after the recovery phase. These results suggest that microbial decomposers and leaf litter decomposition are either barely impaired by exposure to the tested stressors at the levels applied in our experiment, or that communities in restored urban streams are well adapted to cope with these stressor levels.

Simulated sulfuric and nitric acid rain inhibits leaf breakdown in streams: A microcosm study with artificial reconstituted fresh water.

Acid rain containing SO42- and NO3- in China has been a public concern for decades. However, a decrease of SO2 has been recorded since the government enacted a series of policies to control its emission. To comprehensively evaluate the consequence of realistic and future acid deposition scenarios, this study explored the effects of mixed acid rain with different molar ratios of SO42- and NO3- (0:1, 1:0, 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2) on stream leaf breakdown through a microcosm experiment. A significant inhibition of leaf breakdown rate was observed when the ratio was 1:2 with reduced microcosm pH, fungal biomass, enzyme activities as well as the frequencies of hub general in the fungal community. In conclusion, the ratio of SO42- and NO3- in acid rain was an important factor that could have a profound impact on leaf breakdown, even on ecosystem structure and functioning of streams.

Combined effects of water temperature, grazing snails and terrestrial herbivores on leaf decomposition in urban streams.

The decomposition of organic matter in freshwaters, such as leaf litter, can affect global nutrient (e.g., carbon) cycling. This process can be influenced by fast urbanization through increased water temperature, reduced aquatic diversity and changed leaf litter quality traits. In this study, we performed a mesocosm experiment to explore the individual and combined effects of warming (8°C higher and ambient), the presence versus absence of grazing snails (Parafossarulus striatulus), and intraspecific difference of leaf litter quality (intact versus > 40% area of Liriodendron chinense leaves grazed by terrestrial insects) on litter decomposition in urban streams. Litter decomposition rates ranged from 0.019 d-1 to 0.058 d-1 with an average decomposition rate of 0.032 ± 0.002 d-1. All the three factors had significant effects on litter decomposition rate. Warming and the presence of snails accelerated litter decomposition rates by 60% and 35% respectively. Litter decomposition rates of leaves damaged by terrestrial insects were 5% slower than that of intact leaves, because litter quality of terrestrial insect-damaged leaves was lower (i.e., higher specific leaf weight) than intact leaves. For treatments with snails, warming stimulated microbial and snail mediated litter decomposition rates by 35% and 167%, respectively. All combinations of treatments showed additive effects on litter decomposition except for the interaction between warming and snails which showed positive synergistic effects. In addition, neither temperature nor litter quality affected snail growth rate. These results imply that higher water temperature and the presence of abundant snails in urban streams greatly enhanced litter decomposition. Moreover, the effect of pest outbreaks, which resulted in lower litter quality, can cascade to aquatic ecosystems by retarding microbe-mediated litter decomposition. When these factors co-occurred, warming could synergistically interact with snails to speed up the depletion of organic matter, while the effect of leaf quality on litter decomposition may be diminished at high water temperature. These effects could further influence stream food webs and nutrient cycling.

The effect of macroinvertebrate exclusion on leaf breakdown rates in two upland Colombian streams / Efecto de la exclusión de macroinvertebrados sobre las tasas de descomposición de la hojarasca en dos ríos de alta montaña en Colombia

Abstract Macroinvertebrate shredders have been widely recognized as an important functional feeding group that contributes to leaf decomposition in temperate streams, but little is known about their role in upland Neotropical streams. In this study, we investigated the effect of macroinvertebrate exclusion on leaf breakdown rates in two upland streams in Colombia. The study was carried out between January and April of 2009, including the dry season and the beginning of the wet season. We measured leaf mass loss using coarse- (15 mm; accessible to macroinvertebrates) and fine- (200 µm; macroinvertebrates excluded) mesh litter bags that were anchored with wood stakes to the bottom of each stream and recovered after 7, 14, 21, 28, and 56 days. We selected leaves from two dominant plant species and used three leaf treatments: two single species (Palicourea cuatrecasasii and Critoniopsis ursicola) and mixed-species (P. cuatrecasasii and C. ursicola). We compared leaf breakdown rates between the Peña Bonita and Marianela stream, mesh-sizes, and leaf treatments. Macroinvertebrates that colonized the litter bags were measured for density and biomass and categorized in functional feeding groups. In general, there were no significant differences in breakdown rates between the streams and the mesh-sizes. In contrast, leaf breakdown rates had significant differences between all leaf species, where C. ursicola had higher breakdown rates than mixed-species, and P. cuatrecasasii. Macroinvertebrate exclusion did not affect leaf breakdown rates and their assemblages were composed by high densities of collectors (mainly Chironomidae) and few shredders with a large body size. The similar macroinvertebrate colonization between leaf species, the relatively slow breakdown rates, and the shredder scarcity, suggest that leaves were a refractory substrate. Further studies should include leaf species with different nutritional qualities and larger spatial-temporal scales to test the hypothesis of shredder presence and its role on leaf decomposition in upland Colombian streams. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(1): 457-467. Epub 2018 March 01.

Resumen Los macroinvertebrados fragmentadores han sido ampliamente reconocidos como un importante grupo funcional alimenticio que contribuye a la descomposición de la hojarasca en quebradas del hemisferio norte, pero poco se sabe sobre su papel en quebradas de montaña neotropicales. En el presente estudio investigamos el efecto de la exclusión de los macroinvertebrados sobre las tasas de fragmentación de la hojarasca en dos quebradas de montaña en Colombia. Nuestra hipótesis es que la fragmentación de la hojarasca es mediada principalmente por macroinvertebrados fragmentadores en quebradas de montaña en Colombia. Este estudio fue llevado a cabo entre enero y abril 2009, incluyendo la época seca y el comienzo de la época de lluvias. Se midieron las pérdidas de masa de hojarasca usando bolsas de malla gruesa (15 mm; accesible a macroinvertebrados) y fina (200 µm; macroinvertebrados excluidos); estas fueron atadas con estacas de madera al fondo de cada quebrada y recuperadas transcurridos 7, 14, 21, 28 y 56 días. Se seleccionó hojarasca de dos especies dominantes en los sitios de estudio y se usaron tres tratamientos para las bolsas de hojarasca: Critoniopsis ursicola, Palicourea cuatrecasasii y una mezcla de estas dos especies. Se compararon las tasas de fragmentación de la hojarasca entre las dos quebradas, los dos tipos de malla y las especies de hojarasca. Los macroinvertebrados que colonizaron las bolsas de hojarasca fueron medidos en términos de densidad, biomasa y categorizados en grupos funcionales alimenticios. En general, nuestros resultados no mostraron diferencias significativas en las tasas de fragmentación de la hojarasca entre las quebradas y entre los tipos de malla. En contraste, las tasas de fragmentación presentaron diferencias significativas entre las especies de hojarasca; específicamente, C. ursicola tuvo tasas más altas de fragmentación que las especies mezcladas y que P. cuatrecasasii. Con respecto a los macroinvertebrados, el presente estudio encontró que su exclusión no tuvo un efecto sobre las tasas de fragmentación y los ensamblajes estuvieron compuestos por una alta densidad de recolectores (principalmente de la familia Chironomidae) y pocos fragmentadores con gran tamaño corporal. La colonización similar de macroinvertebrados entre las especies de hojarasca, las relativamente lentas tasas de fragmentación, sugieren que las hojas fueron un sustrato refractario. Futuros estudios deberían incluir especies de hojarasca con diferentes calidades nutricionales y una mayor escala espacio-temporal para estudiar la hipótesis de la presencia de fragmentadores en quebradas de montaña en Colombia.

Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (Insecta) Abundance, Diversity and Role in Leaf Litter Breakdown in Tropical Headwater River.

Leaf litter decomposition in a tropical stream was examined in two types of leaf packs; single species leaf packs of Pometia pinnata and two species leaf packs of equal combination of Pometia pinnata and Dolichandrone spathacea leaves. Both leaf packs were immersed in a river and weekly examined for remains of decomposed leaves and presence of EPT. In the control leaf packs, leaves in the two species leaf packs treatments decomposed within 35 days, faster than in single species leaf packs which decomposed after 42 days. In the presence of EPT, the leaf breakdown took 28 days in two species and 35 days for single species leaf packs. Higher abundance of EPT was observed in single species leaf packs but its diversity was higher in two species leaf packs. Litter breakdown in the stream was faster in the presence of EPT and softer leaves of D. spathacea with higher nitrogen content underwent faster decomposition and sustained higher numbers of EPT.

Scale dependency in the hydromorphological control of a stream ecosystem functioning.

Physical habitat degradation is prevalent in river ecosystems. Although still little is known about the ecological consequences of altered hydromorphology, understanding the factors at play can contribute to sustainable environmental management. In this study we aimed to identify the hydromorphological features controlling a key ecosystem function and the spatial scales where such linkages operate. As hydromorphological and chemical pressures often occur in parallel, we examined the relative importance of hydromorphological and chemical factors as determinants of leaf breakdown. Leaf breakdown assays were investigated at 82 sites of rivers throughout the French territory. Leaf breakdown data were then crossed with data on water quality and with a multi-scale hydromorphological assessment (i.e. upstream catchment, river segment, reach and habitat) when quantitative data were available. Microbial and total leaf breakdown rates exhibited differential responses to both hydromorphological and chemical alterations. Relationships between the chemical quality of the water and leaf breakdown were weak, while hydromorphological integrity explained independently up to 84.2% of leaf breakdown. Hydrological and morphological parameters were the main predictors of microbial leaf breakdown, whereas hydrological parameters had a major effect on total leaf breakdown, particularly at large scales, while morphological parameters were important at smaller scales. Microbial leaf breakdown were best predicted by hydromorphological features defined at the upstream catchment level whereas total leaf breakdown were best predicted by reach and habitat level geomorphic variables. This study demonstrates the use of leaf breakdown in a biomonitoring context and the importance of hydromorphological integrity for the functioning of running water. It provides new insights for environmental decision-makers to identify the management and restoration actions that have to be undertaken including the hydromorphogical features that should be kept in minimal maintenance to support leaf breakdown.

Effects of salinity on leaf breakdown: Dryland salinity versus salinity from a coalmine.

Salinization of freshwater ecosystems as a result of human activities represents a global threat for ecosystems' integrity. Whether different sources of salinity with their differing ionic compositions lead to variable effects in ecosystem functioning is unknown. Therefore, the present study assessed the impact of dryland- (50µS/cm to 11,000µS/cm) and coalmine-induced (100µS/cm to 2400µS/cm) salinization on the leaf litter breakdown, with focus on microorganisms as main decomposer, in two catchments in New South Wales, Australia. The breakdown of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves decreased with increasing salinity by up to a factor of three. Coalmine salinity, which is characterised by a higher share of bicarbonates, had a slightly but consistently higher breakdown rate at a given salinity relative to dryland salinity, which is characterised by ionic proportions similar to sea water. Complementary laboratory experiments supported the stimulatory impact of sodium bicarbonates on leaf breakdown when compared to sodium chloride or artificial sea salt. Furthermore, microbial inoculum from a high salinity site (11,000µS/cm) yielded lower leaf breakdown at lower salinity relative to inoculum from a low salinity site (50µS/cm). Conversely, inoculum from the high salinity site was less sensitive towards increasing salinity levels relative to inoculum from the low salinity site. The effects of the different inoculum were the same regardless of salt source (sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and artificial sea salt). Finally, the microorganism-mediated leaf litter breakdown was most efficient at intermediate salinity levels (≈500µS/cm). The present study thus points to severe implications of increasing salinity intensities on the ecosystem function of leaf litter breakdown, while the underlying processes need further scrutiny.

Effects of fungicides on decomposer communities and litter decomposition in vineyard streams.

Large amounts of fungicides are applied globally and partly enter freshwater ecosystems. A few laboratory studies examined their effects on decomposer communities and the ecosystem process of litter decomposition (LD), whereas the field situation remains largely unknown. We conducted a field study with 17 stream sites in a German vineyard area where fungicides represent the dominant pest control agent. Passive samplers were used to monitor 15 fungicides and 4 insecticides in streams and their toxicity was described using the toxic unit approach, whereas sediment samples were taken to characterise total copper concentrations. Microbial and leaf-shredding invertebrate community composition and related LD rates were assessed at each site. The structure of microbial and shredder communities as well as fungal biomass changed along the fungicide toxicity gradient. The changes in microbial endpoints were associated with a reduction of microbial LD rate of up to 40% in polluted streams. By contrast, neither the invertebrate LD rate nor in-situ measured gammarid feeding rates correlated with fungicide toxicity, but both were negatively associated with sediment copper concentrations. A subsequent laboratory experiment employing field fungicide concentrations suggested that the microbial community changes are causal. Overall, our results suggest that fungicides can affect LD under field conditions.

Experimental manipulation of leaf litter colonization by aquatic invertebrates in a third order tropical stream / Manipulação experimental da colonização de detritos foliares por invertebrados aquáticos em um riacho tropical de 3ª ordem

Through a manipulative experiment, the colonization of leaf litter by invertebrates was investigated in two sections of a tropical stream (spatial scale) that differed in function of the canopy cover, one with the presence (closed area) and another without riparian vegetation (open area), during one month of the dry and one of the wet season (temporal scale). The work aimed to verify differences related to four variables: season, canopy cover, leaf type and leaf condition. Litter bags containing arboreal and herbaceous leaves (leaf type variable), non-conditioned and preconditioned (leaf condition variable) were placed at the bottom of the stream in each area (canopy cover variable) and season (dry and wet), and removed after 13-day colonization. The analysis of the remaining litter dry mass per leaf bag emphasizes differences related mainly to seasonality, canopy cover and leaf type, although leaf condition was also important when combined with those three factors. Comparing the abundance of invertebrates per treatment, there was a tendency of high predominance of Chironomidae during the dry season and greater taxa diversity and evenness during the wet season, when the water flow increase could alter the availability of microhabitats for local fauna. Even though canopy cover alone was not a significant source of variation in the abundance of invertebrates, the results showed a tendency of a combined effect of canopy cover with seasonality and leaf condition.

Através de um experimento de manipulação, a colonização de detritos foliares por invertebrados foi analisada em duas seções de um riacho tropical (escala espacial), que diferem em função da cobertura do dossel , um com a presença (área fechada) e outro sem vegetação ciliar (área aberta), durante um mês da estação seca e um da chuvosa (escala temporal). O trabalho teve como objetivo verificar as diferenças relacionadas a quatro variáveis: estação, cobertura vegetal, tipo e condição da folha. Sacos de náilon contendo folhas de uma planta arbórea e uma herbácea (tipo folha), não- condicionadas e pré-condicionadas (condição da folha) foram colocadas em cada área e estação do ano e removidos após 13 dias de colonização. A análise da massa seca remanescente dos detritos enfatizou diferenças relacionadas principalmente à sazonalidade, cobertura do dossel e tipo folha, embora a condição da folha também tenha sido importante quando combinado com esses três fatores. Comparando a abundância de invertebrados por tratamento, houve uma tendência de predominância de Chironomidae durante a estação seca e maior diversidade e equidade durante a estação chuvosa, quando o aumento do fluxo de água pode alterar a disponibilidade de micro-habitats para a fauna local. Apesar de cobertura do dossel sozinha não ter sido uma importante fonte de variação na abundância de invertebrados, os resultados mostraram uma tendência de um efeito combinado da cobertura do dossel com a sazonalidade e condição folha.

Descomposición de hojarasca en seis arroyos de Bosque Mesófilo de Montaña en la cuenca alta del río La Antigua, Veracruz, México

Leaf litter decomposition in six Cloud Forest streams of the upper La Antigua watershed, Veracruz, Mexico. Leaf litter decomposition is an important stream ecosystem process. To understand factors controlling leaf decomposition in cloud forest in Mexico, we incubated leaf packs in different streams along a land use cover gradient for 35 days during the dry and wet seasons. We assessed relations between leaf decomposition rates (k), stream physicochemistry, and macroinvertebrates colonizing leaf packs. Physicochemical parameters showed a clear seasonal difference at all study streams. Leaves were colonized by collector-gatherer insects, followed by shredders. Assessment of factors related to k indicated that only forest cover was negatively related to leaf decomposition rates. Thus stream physicochemistry and seasonality had no impact on decomposition rates. We concluded that leaf litter decomposition at our study streams is a stable process over the year. However, it is possible that this stability is the result of factors regulating decomposition during the different seasons and streams. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (Suppl. 2): 111-127. Epub 2014 April 01.

Para muchos arroyos, la hojarasca proveniente de la zona ribereña es la base de las redes tróficas, por lo cual el proceso de descomposición de la hojarasca es de gran importancia para el funcionamiento de estos ecosistemas. Con el fin de conocer los factores que afectan la descomposición de la hojarasca en arroyos del bosque mesófilo de montaña (BMM), se utilizaron paquetes de hojarasca durante 35 días. Seis arroyos con un gradiente de perturbación fueron estudiados en la época seca y lluviosa. Se determinó la relación entre la tasa de descomposición de la hojarasca (k), con algunos parámetros fisicoquímicos del cuerpo de agua y los macroinvertebrados colonizadores de los paquetes. Los factores fisicoquímicos mostraron una separación de los cuerpos de agua según la época a través de un Análisis de Componentes Principales (ACP). De los insectos colonizadores de los paquetes de hojarasca, el grupo funcional de los recolectores fue el más abundante, seguido por los fragmentadores. Solo se encontró una relación negativa entre la k y el porcentaje de cobertura boscosa (p=0.04) al realizar una regresión múltiple por pasos en la que se incluyeron algunos parámetros fisicoquímicos, el porcentaje de cobertura boscosa y las abundancias promedio de los insectos fragmentadores y no fragmentadores. La descomposición de la hojarasca en los arroyos estudiados parece ser un proceso estable a lo largo del año, aunque los factores responsables por la regulación pueden diferir en las distintas épocas.

Effects of insect and decapod exclusion and leaf litter species identity on breakdown rates in a tropical headwater stream

High species richness of tropical riparian trees influences the diversity of organic detritus entering streams, creating temporal variability in litter quantity and quality. We examined the influence of species of riparian plants and macroinvertebrate exclusion on leaf-litter breakdown in a headwater stream in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico. Leaf litter of Dacryodes excelsa (Burseraceae), Guarea guidonia (Meliaceae), Cecropia scheberiana (Moraceae), Manilkara bidentata (Sapotaceae), and Prestoea acuminata (Palmae) were incubated in litter bags in a pool of Quebrada Prieta. Fine mesh bags were used to exclude macroinvertebrates during leaf breakdown, and coarse mesh bags allowed access to decapod crustaceans (juvenile shrimps and crabs) and aquatic insects (mainly mayflies, chironomids, and caddisflies). D. excelsa and G. guidonia (in coarse- and fine-mesh bags) had significantly higher breakdown rates than C. scheberiana, M. bidentata, and P. acuminata. Breakdown rates were significantly faster in coarse-mesh bag treatments for all leaf types, thus indicating a positive contribution of macroinvertebrates in leaf litter breakdown in this headwater stream. After 42 days of incubation, densities of total invertebrates, mayflies and caddisflies, were higher in bags with D. excelsa and G. guidonia, and lower in P. acuminata, C. scheberiana y M. bidentata. Decay rates were positively correlated to insect densities. Our study highlights the importance of leaf identity and macroinvertebrate exclusion on the process of leaf litter breakdown in tropical headwater streams. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (Suppl. 2): 143-154. Epub 2014 April 01.

La gran variedad de especies vegetales junto a los ríos tropicales afecta la diversidad de detritos orgánicos que llegan a los arroyos, creando variaciones temporales en cantidad y calidad de hojarasca. Examinamos la influencia de las especies vegetales y de la exclusión de macroinvertebrados sobre la descomposición de hojarasca en la parte alta de un arroyo en las montañas Luquillo de Puerto Rico. Incubamos hojarasca de Dacryodes excelsa (Burseraceae), Guarea guidonia (Meliaceae), Cecropia scheberiana (Moraceae), Manilkara bidentata (Sapotaceae) y Prestoea acuminata (Palmae) en bolsas descomposición que colocamos en una poza de Quebrada Prieta. Usamos bolsas de malla fina para excluir los macroinvertebrados y de malla gruesa para permitir la entrada a crustáceos decápodos (camarones y cangrejos jóvenes) e insectos acuáticos (principalmente efemerópteros, quironómidos y tricópteros). D. excelsa y G. guidonia (en ambos tipos de malla) tuvieron tasas de descomposición más altas que C. scheberiana, M. bidentata y P. acuminata. La descomposición fue más rápida para todas las especies de hoja con la malla gruesa, resaltando el papel de los descomponedores en este hábitat. Tras 42 días de esta incubación, las densidades totales de invertebrados, efemerópteros y tricópteros fueron mayores en las bolsas con hojas de D. excelsa y G. guidonia, e inferiores en P. acuminata, C. scheberiana y M. bidentata. A mayor densidad de insectos hubo mayor tasa de descomposición. Nuestros resultados indican la importancia de la especie de las hojas y de la presencia de macroinvertebrados en el proceso de descomposición de hojarasca en partes altas de arroyos tropicales.

Effects of a fungicide (imazalil) and an insecticide (diazinon) on stream fungi and invertebrates associated with litter breakdown.

The intensification of agriculture has promoted the use of pesticides such as fungicides and insecticides. Many pesticides readily leach into natural water bodies and affect both organisms and ecosystem processes such as leaf breakdown, a crucial process in headwater streams. As leaf breakdown in streams involves sequential steps by different groups of organisms (first microbial conditioning, then invertebrate shredding), pesticides targeting different organisms are likely to affect one or the other step, and a mixture of contaminants might have interactive effects. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of a fungicide (imazalil) and an insecticide (diazinon) on stream fungal and invertebrate activities, and their effects on leaf consumption. After an initial assay to define 'effective concentration' of both pesticides in a laboratory experiment, we manipulated pesticide presence/absence during the conditioning and shredding phases. Both pesticides affected fungal community and reduced the performance of the shredding amphipod Echinogammarus berilloni, and leaf consumption. The impact of pesticides on fungal sporulation depended on the length of the exposure period. In addition, pesticides seemed to cause an energetic imbalance in the amphipod, affecting body condition and mortality. The combined effect of both pesticides was similar to those of the fungicide. Overall, our results show that the effects of pesticide mixtures on leaf breakdown are hard to predict from those observed in either fungi or macroinvertebrate performance.

Nutrient addition does not enhance leaf decomposition in a Southeastern Brazilian stream (Espinhaço mountain range)

A decomposition experiment using eucalyptus leaves was carried out in a Southeastern Brazilian mountain stream located at the transition between the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest to test whether nutrient addition increases microbial and invertebrate colonisation and accelerates breakdown rates. The results show that none of the tested variables was significantly affected by nutrient addition, despite the average increase in ATP concentrations and invertebrate colonisation observed in the fertilised leaf bags. This could mean that breakdown in the stream was already at its maximum due to the relatively high water temperature and nutrient content, or that the breakdown rate of eucalyptus leaves was too fast to allow the detection of any effects of nutrient addition. Breakdown rates of eucalyptus leaves were much faster than the values reported in literature for most species in Brazilian Cerrado streams, suggesting that the replacement of the natural vegetation by eucalyptus may affect nutrient dynamics in the region.

Um experimento de decomposição de folhas de eucalipto foi efetuado em um riacho do sudeste do Brasil, localizado na transição entre o Cerrado e a Mata Atlântica para testar se a adição de nutrientes aumenta a colonização das folhas por microrganismos e por invertebrados e se acelera a sua taxa de decomposição. Nenhuma das variáveis testadas foi significativamente afetada pela adição de nutrientes, apesar do aumento médio verificado nas concentrações de ATP e na colonização por invertebrados dos sacos contento detritos fertilizados. Isto pode significar que a decomposição no riacho já ocorria à taxa máxima devido à temperatura e concentração de nutrientes relativamente elevadas da água ou que a taxa de decomposição das folhas de eucalipto foi demasiado rápida para permitir detectar qualquer efeito da adição de nutrientes. Os coeficientes de decomposição das folhas de eucalipto (0,1127 - 0,1192 dia-1) foram mais elevados que os verificados na literatura para a maioria das espécies em riachos do Cerrado, sugerindo que o reflorestamento com eucalipto pode alterar a dinâmica dos nutrientes na região.

Nutrient addition accelerates leaf breakdown in an alpine springbrook.

This study assessed the effect of nutrient enrichment on organic matter breakdown in an alpine springbrook, using alder leaf packs to which phosphorus and nitrogen were added in the form of slow-release fertilizer briquettes. The breakdown of leaf packs with nutrients added (k=0.0284 day-1) was significantly faster than that of unfertilized packs (k=0.0137 day-1), resulting in a 30% higher mass loss after 42 days. Unfertilized leaves enclosed in fine-mesh bags broke down at an even slower rate (k=0.0062 day-1). Phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations were initially higher in leaf packs with nutrients added, but this difference disappeared within 3 weeks. Fungal biomass developing in decomposing leaves was substantial (c. 55 mg dry mass per 1 g leaf dry mass) although similar between fertilized and unfertilized packs, as was the sporulation activity of aquatic hyphomycetes. There was a significantly greater number and higher biomass of macroinvertebrates (shredding nemourid stoneflies in particular) on the fertilized packs, suggesting that the increased leaf mass loss was brought about by shredder feeding.