Leaf litter transport and retention in a tropical Rift Valley stream: an experimental approach

The impact of a drought on freshwater snail and trematode communities was investigated in a lake. Before the drought, 15 gastropod species (Valvatidae, Planorbidae, Lymnaeidae, Ancylidae, Physidae) and 10 trematode species (cercariaeum, xiphidiocercariae, echinostome, furcocercariae, notocotyle, lophocercous) were recorded. The rate of parasitism was 5.13% and there were 11 host species. The 2 major consequences of desiccation were the disappearance of snails, except Valvata piscinalis and Lymnaea peregra, and the absence of trematodes infecting the surviving snails. As soon as favourable conditions were restored, the littoral area was recolonized, first by hygrophilic and amphibious species, second by aquatic species. Nine months after the drought, the gastropod community was restored. Recolonization by the trematodes was delayed compared with that of gastropods. During the study, the overall prevalence was equal to 0.36% and only 4 trematode species and 5 host species were recorded. Because of the great variability of freshwater ecosystems, long-term studies are necessary to understand the dynamics of snail and trematode populations and determine the regulatory effect of parasitism in the field.     

Response of Aquatic Leaf Associated Microbial Communities to Elevated Leachate DOC: A Microcosm Study

In Central Europe climate change will increase summer droughts, which cause both, premature leaf fall and fragmentation of small streams during summer and early autumn. As a consequence dissolved organic carbon (DOC) leached from leaves will be dispersed into pools with long water residence time. A microcosm experiment was performed to test the effect of high concentrations of leachate DOC and the relative importance of labile and refractory leachate compounds on leaf associated microbial parameters. In microcosms leaf discs colonized in a stream were exposed to high concentrations of either leaf leachate, glucose or tannic acid. Leaf associated respiration, fungal sporulation, leaf mass loss and fungal biomass (ergosterol) were measured during a 3 weeks experimental period and compared to control without DOC amendment. The results imply that depending on source and composition elevated leachate DOC may have variable effects on microbial mediated litter decomposition. Our findings suggest reduced microbial decomposition rates in pools of fragmented streams receiving premature leaf fall. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The importance of bacterivorous protists in the decomposition of stream leaf litter

1. Allochthonous organic matter, in the form of senesced leaves, is a major source of carbon supporting detrital food webs. While studies have documented the role of bacteria and fungi in the decomposition of leaf litter, little information is available regarding the role of protists in the decomposition process. 2. We tested the hypothesis that the presence of stream‐dwelling bacterivorous protists leads to an increased rate of leaf decomposition through grazing pressure on bacteria. We isolated live protists from decomposing leaves collected in a stream in Northern Virginia, U.S.A. (Goose Creek) and established laboratory cultures of common bacterivorous protists. 3. Recently senesced leaves from the field were used in laboratory microcosm experiments to determine if the rate of litter decomposition differed between four treatments: bacteria only, bacteria + flagellates, bacteria + flagellates + ciliates, autoclaved stream water (control). We determined the dry weight of leaf remaining, bacterial abundance, flagellate abundance and ciliate abundance for each replicate on days 0, 7, 14, 30, 60 and 120. 4. The rate of leaf decomposition was significantly higher in treatments with protists than without and bacterial abundance declined in protist treatments compared with bacteria only treatment. Weight loss in the presence of flagellates was three to four times higher when protists were present compared with treatments with bacteria alone. These results provide experimental evidence that protists could play a significant role in the detrital processes of streams.     

Dynamics of yeast populations recovered from decaying leaves in a nonpolluted stream: a 2-year study on the effects of leaf litter type and decomposition time

Here we report on the results of a survey of the yeast populations occurring on submerged leaves (alder, eucalyptus and oak) in a natural mountain stream, during different phases of their decomposition and through two consecutive years. Leaf litter mass loss, total yeast counts, Shannon-Weiner index (H'), yeast community structure and physiologic abilities were analyzed to evaluate the dynamics of yeast communities during decay. Seventy-two yeast taxa were recorded, and in all litter types, species of basidiomycetous affinity predominated over ascomycetous ones. Discriminant analysis of presence/absence data (yeast species) showed significant differences both among substrate types (P<0.0026) and with decomposition time (P<0.0001). Carbon and nitrogen source utilization by yeast strains also varied with the substrate (P<0.0001) and decomposition time (P<0.0001). Further conclusions were that: (1) all litter types have in common ubiquitous yeast species, such as Cryptococcus albidus, Debaryomyces hansenii and Rhodotorula glutinis, among the common 20 yeast species; (2) only a few species were dominant, and most species were rare, being recorded once or twice throughout decomposition; and (3) the order of yeast appearance, and their substrate assimilation patterns, strongly suggest a succession phenomenon. Finally, explanations for the distribution patterns and variations in yeast communities are discussed.     

杨树和桤木落叶混合分解对土壤微生物生物量的影响

通过室内培养,研究了杨树和江南桤木落叶混合分解过程中两种落叶的混合比例及落叶添加方式对土壤微生物生物量的影响.结果表明:落叶混合比例对土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、氮(MBN)均有显著的影响.培养30 d,江南桤木落叶比例为50％以上的土壤MBC和MBN显著高于纯杨树落叶处理及对照;75 d时,江南桤木落叶比例≥40％的土壤MBC和≥30％的土壤MBN均显著高于纯杨树落叶处理及对照;135 d后,江南桤木落叶比例≥20％的土壤MBC和≥40％的土壤MBN均显著高于纯杨树落叶处理及对照.不同混合比例的土壤MBC/MBN无显著差异,总体呈前期增长后期下降的变化趋势.杨树和江南桤木落叶混合分解对土壤MBC和MBN有显著的协同促进作用.在整个培养过程中,落叶添加方式对土壤MBC、MBN和MBC/MBN无显著影响.     

Responses in organic matter accumulation and processing to an experimental wood addition in three headwater streams

1. Additions of large wood are being used to restore streams that have been subjected to channelization, wood removal or riparian timber harvest. This added wood potentially increases channel stability, habitat complexity and organic matter retention and improves habitat and productivity of higher trophic levels. However, few stream restorations monitor restoration effectiveness after project completion. 2. We added 25 aspen logs (each 2.5 m length × 0.5 m diameter) to 100‐m reaches of each of three forested headwater streams in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, U.S.A. These wood‐poor streams drain forests that were completely harvested of timber over a century ago and have been selectively logged for the past 50–60 years. An upstream unmanipulateds 100‐m reach in each stream served as the control. 3. We evaluated responses in organic matter processing by measuring red maple leaf decomposition 1 year before and 2 years after wood addition. We also quantified coarse organic matter standing stocks in the main channel and in debris accumulations associated with large wood. In response to wood addition, we predicted both organic matter standing stocks and leaf decomposition rates would increase, thereby enhancing resource availability to higher trophic levels. 4. Leaf decomposition rates did not change following wood addition. Temporal variation in rates among streams was mostly explained by differences in degree days, water velocity, scour/burial and water column inorganic nitrogen concentrations, but not large wood. Variation within streams across years was explained by differences in degree days, water velocity and shredder biomass. 5. Contrary to our prediction, organic matter standing stocks did not increase significantly at the reach scale. However, the experimentally added wood retained c. 4% of total annual coarse benthic organic matter (CBOM) in the first year and an additional c. 15% in the second year, suggesting accumulation over time in the manipulated reaches. The CBOM held by the new logs may be more biologically available because it is less susceptible to burial and transport than material in the streambed. 6. Some shredding macroinvertebrates responded to changes caused by the wood additions. In particular, the common caddisfly shredder, Lepidostoma sp., increased in abundance in leaf bags following wood addition, whereas the biomass of the winter stoneflies, Capniidae, declined in the first year. 7. Considerable funds are spent to restore in‐stream habitat, but few restorations are monitored, particularly over long periods (>5 years). Our results show that longer‐term monitoring is needed to determine the efficacy of these restorations on ecosystem function; organic matter decomposition in our low‐gradient streams did not respond to a substantial increase in large wood after 2 years.     

亚热带溪流中树叶凋落物多酚含量对树叶分解过程的影响

利用邻二氮菲-铁(Ⅲ)分光光度法测定了蒲桃与人面子树叶在二级溪流中分解时植物多酚含量的变化,并研究了多酚含量对树叶分解速率、底栖动物定殖以及微生物呼吸量的影响。结果表明,蒲桃叶片中初始多酚含量(19%)比人面子树叶的含量高(6%),其分解速率(分解系数k=0.01d^-1)比人面子树叶慢(k=0.04d^-1)。研究还发现,蒲桃叶片上的微生物呼吸量比人面子的低(每克叶片单位时间的耗氧量分别为0.2和0.4毫克),而且底栖动物中撕食者的种类和数量也比人面子树叶少。说明蒲桃叶片中较高的多酚含量抑制了微生物的活性和底栖动物的取食,从而减缓了蒲桃树叶的分解进程,表明叶片中多酚含量与树叶凋落物分解速率呈负相关关系。     

Flow-substrate interactions create and mediate leaf litter resource patches in streams

1. The roles that streambed geometry, channel morphology, and water velocity play in the retention and subsequent breakdown of leaf litter in small streams were examined by conducting a series of field and laboratory experiments. 2. In the first experiment, conditioned red alder (Alnus rubra Bongard) leaves were released individually in three riffles and three pools in a second‐order stream. The transport distance of each leaf was measured. Several channel and streambed variables were measured at each leaf settlement location and compared with a similar number of measurements taken at regular intervals along streambed transects (‘reference locations’). Channel features (such as water depth) and substrate variables (including stone height, stone height‐to‐width ratio, and relative protrusion) were the most important factors in leaf retention. 3. In the second experiment, the role of settlement location and reach type in determining the rate of leaf litter breakdown was examined by placing individual conditioned red alder leaves in exposed and sheltered locations (on the upper and lower edges of the upstream face of streambed stones, respectively) in riffle and pool habitats. After 10 days, percent mass remaining of each leaf was measured. Generally, leaves broke down faster in pools than in riffles. However, the role of exposure in breakdown rate differed between reach types (exposed pool > sheltered pool > sheltered riffle > exposed riffle). 4. In the third experiment, the importance of substrate geometry on leaf litter retention was examined by individually releasing artificial leaves upstream of a series of substrate models of varying shape. Substrates with high‐angle upstream faces (were vertical or close to vertical), and that had high aspect ratios (were tall relative to their width), retained leaves more effectively. 5. These results show that streambed morphology is an important factor in leaf litter retention and breakdown. Interactions between substrate and flow characteristics lead to the creation of detrital resource patchiness, and may partition leaf litter inputs between riffles and pools in streams at baseflow conditions.     

干旱区人工防护林带不同林分凋落叶分解及养分释放

2007年10月下旬至2008年11月,采用原位模拟分解网袋法,对新疆克拉玛依市区北郊人工防护林新疆杨、紫穗槐及二者混合凋落叶进行为期365 d的分解及养分释放动态试验.结果表明：树种不同,凋落叶质量损失率的动态变化不同;凋落叶组成对质量损失率有显著影响,与单优林凋落叶相比,紫穗槐与新疆杨凋落叶混合后更易于分解.经修正Olson负指数衰减模型分析,新疆杨凋落叶分解系数最低(k=0.167),混合凋落叶分解系数最高(k=0.275),估测3种凋落叶半分解和95％分解所需时间为2.41～4.19 a和10.79～17.98 a.不同的分解时期3种凋落叶中N、P和K的残留率不同,分解1年后,K为净释放,N和P为固持或从周围环境中吸收而富集.分解过程中,除紫穗槐凋落叶在分解中期有机碳分解率下降外,其他处理凋落叶有机碳分解率均不断上升,1年后分解率在35.5%～44.2%之间.C/N值基本呈下降趋势,分解前期和中期下降幅度较小,后期下降较快.     

亚热带3种树种凋落叶厚度对其分解速率及酶活性的影响

对中国亚热带树种杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)、香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)、银杏(Ginkgo biloba)3个树种在不同凋落物厚度下凋落物分解速率和分解酶活性进行了探究.利用分解网袋法,根据浙江省的平均酸雨水平,在酸雨(pH4.0)条件下设置了凋落物40g、凋落物20g、凋落物10g 3个梯度.结果表明:凋落物分解速率随厚度的增加呈加快的趋势,杉木凋落物10、20、40g的年分解系数K分别为0.24、0.27、0.34,香樟凋落物10、20、40g的年分解系数K分别为0.25、0.3、0.32,银杏凋落物10、20、40g的年分解系数K分别为0.42、0.5、0.58;脲酶活性表现为:凋落叶40g＞凋落叶20g＞凋落叶10g,纤维素酶活性表现为:凋落叶40g、凋落叶20g＞凋落叶10g,蔗糖酶活性表现为:后期凋落叶40g＞凋落叶20g＞凋落叶10g,凋落物分解过程是多种酶共同作用的结果.     

高寒森林不同生境凋落叶分解过程中水溶性组分动态特征

凋落叶分解所产生的水溶性组分(water soluble matter)是森林水陆不同生境碳和养分迁移的重要载体。本研究通过布设高寒森林4种代表物种凋落叶分解袋,即康定柳(Salix paraplesia)、高山杜鹃(Rhododendron lapponicum)、方枝柏(Sabina saltuaria)和四川红杉(Larix mastersiana),探讨其在林下地表、溪流和河岸带3种生境下不同分解时期(冻结初期、冻结期、融化期、生长季节、生长季节后期)的水溶性组分及水溶性碳含量动态及其影响因素。结果表明:经两年的分解,发现溪流显著促进了凋落叶中水溶性组分和水溶性碳的释放;同一物种凋落叶在不同生境下水溶性组分和水溶性碳损失差异显著(P<0.05),整体表现为溪流>河岸带>林下;在分解初期水溶性组分含量有明显的降低;在整个分解过程中,水溶性组分(-70.43%)和水溶性碳(-84.31%)含量变化基本一致且呈明显降低趋势。此外,凋落叶中水溶性组分和水溶性碳的释放速率受时间、物种以及区域环境因子(温度、p H值、营养成分)的调控。这些结果表明,高寒森林凋落叶中水溶性...     

黄土高原不同树种枯落叶混合分解效应

混交林中不同树种枯落物混合分解是否产生促进或抑制作用是评价种间关系和混交适宜性的重要依据之一。以黄土高原主要树种为对象,通过室内枯落叶混合分解模拟试验,结果表明:(1)沙棘、白榆、柠条和小叶杨枯落叶分解最快(周转期1 a左右),其次为旱柳、侧柏和白桦枯落叶(周转期略大于1 a),紫穗槐、辽东栎和刺槐枯落叶分解稍慢(周转期1.5 a左右),而樟子松、落叶松和油松枯落叶分解最慢(周转期略大于2 a)。(2)对于针叶树,与油松枯落叶混合,存在明显促进分解作用的是侧柏、落叶松,其次是白桦、沙棘和刺槐;与樟子松枯落叶混合,存在明显促进分解作用的是落叶松、侧柏、沙棘、白榆,其次是柠条、紫穗槐和小叶杨,而存在明显抑制分解作用的是刺槐,其次是白桦和辽东栎;与落叶松枯落叶混合,存在较明显促进分解作用的是白榆、白桦和辽东栎,存在较明显抑制作用的是刺槐;紫穗槐与侧柏枯落叶混合存在较明显的抑制分解作用。(3)对于阔叶树,与小叶杨枯落叶混合,存在较明显促进分解作用的是紫穗槐,其次是辽东栎和刺槐;与刺槐枯落叶混合,存在较明显促进分解作用的是白榆和沙棘,存在明显抑制分解作用的是柠条,其次是辽东栎和白桦;与白桦枯落叶混合,存在较明显促进分解作用的是辽东栎和紫穗槐,存在较明显抑制分解作用的是柠条;白榆与辽东栎、旱柳枯落叶混合均存在较明显的促进分解作用,而白榆与柠条枯落叶混合存在较明显的抑制分解作用;紫穗槐与旱柳、沙棘枯落叶混合均存在较明显的促进分解作用,而紫穗槐与柠条枯落叶混合有较明显的抑制作用。     

泰山4种优势造林树种叶片凋落物分解对凋落物内细菌群落结构的影响

为研究泰山不同造林树种凋落物叶分解对细菌群落的影响。以泰山4种主要优势造林树种刺槐(Robinia pseucdoacacia)、麻栎(Quercus acutissima)、油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)和赤松(Pinus densiflora)为研究对象,采用凋落物分解袋法及Illumina Miseq测序平台对细菌16S rDNA V4—V5区扩增产物进行双端测序,分析了4种树种叶片凋落物分解对细菌群落结构及多样性的影响。结果表明:(1)4种树种叶片分解速率差异显著(P0.05),刺槐分解速率显著高于其他3个树种(P0.05),表现为刺槐赤松油松麻栎。(2)4种叶凋落物分解一年后化学元素含量与初始化学元素相比均存在显著差异。C、木质素含量均显著降低(P0.05);N、P含量显著升高(P0.05)。(3)所有样品一共获得643440条有效序列,分属于35门,92纲,121目,246科,410属,206种。细菌群落NMDSβ-多样性分析显示除油松和赤松间差异较小外,其他树种间差异程度均较大。其中,细菌群落相对丰度在5%以上的优势类群是变形菌门、放线菌门、拟杆菌门、酸杆菌门,且在4种处理之间差异显著(PSymbol|@@0.05)。在纲水平上,α-变形菌纲、β-变形菌纲、不明放线菌纲、鞘脂杆菌纲、γ-变形菌纲、δ-变形菌纲为主要的优势纲,其中不明放线菌纲和鞘脂杆菌纲差异显著(PSymbol|@@0.05)。在种水平上,Bradyrhizobium elkanii和Luteibacter rhizovicinus在4个处理中都为优势种,每个处理也都有自己所特有的优势种。(4)4个处理细菌丰富度(OUT、观测到的物种数和ACE指数)和系统发育多样性(PD指数)之间差异显著(PSymbol|@@0.05),且阔叶树种刺槐和麻栎显著高于针叶树种赤松和油松。(5)叶片凋落物性状和细菌群落NMDS分析表明,细菌群落多样性受到凋落物化学性质的影响,尤其是凋落物初始C/N比和木质素/N比。此外,在细菌群落多样性和叶片凋落物化学性质两个因素中,分解速率与凋落物化学性质相关性更大。研究结果有助于理解细菌群落结构和多样性对森林生态系统叶片凋落物分解的影响。     

沈阳城市和城郊油松凋落叶的分解动态

为了检测分解地点和凋落物类型对分解的影响,采用交互分解实验分析了油松凋落叶在城市林分和城郊林分中分解时不同立地条件(城市和城郊)以及不同油松凋落叶类型(城市油松凋落物和城郊油松凋落物)对凋落物的分解速率以及N、P残留率的相对作用。结果表明:不同的立地条件对油松凋落叶分解速率有显著影响(P<0.05):城郊林分中的油松凋落叶比城市林分中分解快,说明外在环境条件对分解的影响显著;在同一林分里,凋落物类型对凋落叶分解速率也有显著影响(P<0.05):城市凋落物分解快于城郊凋落物,说明凋落物内在特性对分解的影响显著。分解地点对于N、P残留率没有显著的影响,然而凋落物类型对N、P残留率有显著影响:城郊凋落物由于具有较高的C/N以及C/P初始值,比城市凋落物更容易富集N、P。     

Leaf litter breakdown in a Mediterranean stream characterised by travertine precipitation

1. Breakdown of four leaf species ( Platanus orientalis , Populus nigra , Salix atrocinerea , Rubus ulmifolius ) was studied in a Mediterranean second-order stream characterised by abundant travertine precipitation, a history of fire in its catchment, and a recently revegetated alluvial corridor.
2. Compared to breakdown rates reported in the literature for congeneric species, breakdown of the four species was slow (k = 0.0024–0.0069 day⁻¹ for the tree species, and 0.0103 and 0.0111 day⁻¹ for Rubus ), in spite of high water temperatures, indicating that the travertine layer that quickly covered submerged leaves impeded decomposer activity and physical fragmentation losses.
3. Breakdown rates nevertheless differed between leaf species in a predictable manner, suggesting that the observed mass loss was largely due to biological processes.
4. The observed tendency towards increasing leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations during breakdown suggests that microorganisms were actively involved in leaf breakdown; however, this interpretation must be viewed with caution because of potentially confounding effects by nutrients contained in the travertine layer.
5. Leaf breakdown of the three indigenous species was faster than that of the exotic species P. orientalis . Due to the recalcitrance of its leaves, the frequent use of Platanus in revegetation schemes following the destruction of indigenous vegetation by fire, exacerbates the negative effect of travertine precipitation on leaf breakdown and, by extension, energy flow in Mediterranean karst streams.