Ecosystem and macrophyte primary production of the Fort River,Massachusetts

Primary production and ecosystem respiration of the Fort River ecosystem, a medium size (mean discharge 1.4 m³/sec) lowland stream in central Massachusetts, U.S.A., were measured using diurnal oxygen techniques from May 1972 to November 1973. During the summer of 1973, vascular hydrophyte production was measured with a modified cropping technique. Whole ecosystem gross primary production ranged from 0.44 g O₂/m²:day in winter to 6.50 g O₂/m^2.day in summer, and averaged 1.78 g O₂/m^2.day for 12 months. Mean ecosystem respiration was 3.65 g O₂/m^2.day for 12 months. Mean ecosystem respiration was 3.65 g O₂/m^2.day.Macrophyte gross production (59.9 g O₂/m^2.year) constitutes 9.2% of annual ecosystem productivity and 15.2% of summer primary production. Macrophytes were little grazed and entered food webs only after death, as detritus. Decomposition occurred near the site of production at relatively rapid rates, thus transport of dead macrophyte material in stream water was low. Data from this and other stream ecosystems suggest that in general, streams are only moderately productive ecosystems which depend to varying degrees on watershed-derived organic matter inputs.