Allochthonous litter inputs, organic matter standing stocks, and organic seston dynamics in upland Panamanian streams: potential effects of larval amphibians on organic matter dynamics |
| |
Authors: | Checo Colón-Gaud Scot Peterson Matt R Whiles Susan S Kilham Karen R Lips Cathy M Pringle |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology and Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA;(2) Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2875, USA;(3) Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA |
| |
Abstract: | Allochthonous inputs of detritus represent an important energy source for streams in forested regions, but dynamics of these
materials are not well studied in neotropical headwater streams. As part of the tropical amphibian declines in streams (TADS)
project, we quantified benthic organic matter standing stocks and organic seston dynamics in four Panamanian headwater streams,
two with (pre-amphibian decline) and two without (post-decline) healthy amphibian assemblages. We also measured direct litterfall
and lateral litter inputs in two of these streams. Continuous litterfall and monthly benthic samples were collected for 1 year,
and seston was collected 1–3 times/month for 1 year at or near baseflow. Direct litterfall was similar between the two streams
examined, ranging from 934–1,137 g DM m−2 y−1. Lateral inputs were lower, ranging from 140–187 g DM m−1 y−1. Dead leaves (57–60%), wood (24–29%), and green leaves (8–9%) contributed most to inputs, and total inputs were generally
higher during the rainy season. Annual habitat-weighted benthic organic matter standing stocks ranged from 101–171 g AFDM
m−2 across the four study reaches, with ∼4 × higher values in pools compared to erosional habitats. Total benthic organic matter
(BOM) values did not change appreciably with season, but coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM, >1 mm) generally decreased
and very fine particulate organic matter (VFPOM, 1.6–250 μm) generally increased during the dry season. Average annual seston
concentrations ranged from 0.2–0.6 mg AFDM l−1 (fine seston, <754 μm >250 μm) and 2.0–4.7 mg AFDM l−1 (very fine, <250 μm >1.6 μm), with very fine particles composing 85–92% of total seston. Quality of fine seston particles
in the two reaches where tadpoles were present was significantly higher (lower C/N) than the two where tadpoles had been severely
reduced (P = 0.0028), suggesting that ongoing amphibian declines in this region are negatively influencing the quality of particles
exported from headwaters. Compared to forested streams in other regions, these systems receive relatively high amounts of
allochthonous litter inputs but have low in-stream storage.
Handling editor: J. Padisak |
| |
Keywords: | Tropical streams Leaf litter Organic matter Standing stocks Organic seston Larval amphibians |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|