|
|||||
|
|
Use of ATP and carbon: nitrogen ratio as indicators of food quality of stream detritus |
|
| Authors: | B R TAYLOR J C ROFF |
| Institution: | Department of Zoology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Ontario |
| Abstract: | SUMMARY. 1. Differences in food quality of suspended and benthic organic detritus, as measured by ATP content and C/N ratio, were assessed along three contrasting headwater streams in southern Ontario. 2. Large differences in ATP content of sediments between cooler upstream reaches and warmer downstream reaches were detected. Sediment ATP content was highly correlated with stream temperature, presumably as a result of faster microbial growth, and with stream gradient. C/N ratios of sediments showed much the same pattern of differences as ATP, but were less variable. 3. By contrast, the ATP content (or BIOC/POM ratio) and C/N ratios of suspended organic matter showed no systematic variation between upstream and downstream or between warmer open and cooler shaded areas, probably due to the very short residence time of suspended particles. |
| Keywords: | |