RT Journal Article
T1 Leaf-litter decomposition in headwater stream: a comparation on the process among four climatic regions
A1 Pozo, Jesús
A1 Casas, Jesús
A1 Menéndez, Margarita
A1 Mollá, Salvador
A1 Arostegui, Inmaculada
A1 Basaguren, Ana
A1 Casado, Carmen
A1 Descals, Enrique
A1 García Avilés, Javier
A1 González, José M.
A1 Larrañaga, Aitor
A1 López, Enrique
A1 Lusi, Miriam
A1 Moya, Óscar
A1 Pérez, Javier
A1 Riera, Tecla
A1 Roblas, Neftalí
A1 Salinas, María Jacoba
AB The main purpose of our work was to elucidate factors responsible for the geographical differences in leaf-litter decomposition rates in Spanish oligotrophic headwater streams. Decomposition experiments with alder (Alnus glutinosa) leaf litter were carried out in 22 headwater streams in 4 different climatic regions across the Iberian Peninsula (Cornisa Canta´brica, Cordillera Litoral Catalana, Sierra de Guadarrama, and Sierra Nevada). Streams that were similar in size, flowed mainly over siliceous substrate in catchments with scarce human settlements and activities, and fell within a range of low nutrient concentrations were chosen in each region. Breakdown rates were regionally variable and were low (0.109–0.198% ash-free dry mass [AFDM]/degree day [dd]) in the Cornisa Canta´brica, the most mesic and Atlantic region, and high (0.302–0.639% AFDM/dd) in Sierra de Guadarrama, one of the coldest and most inland areas. Temperature was not the determining factor affecting differences in breakdown rates among regions, and breakdown rates were not related to concentrations of dissolved nutrients. However, microbial reproductive activity (sporulation rates) was significantly correlated with dissolved P concentration. Breakdown rates were explained better by presence and feeding activities of detritivores than by decomposer activity. Incorporation of breakdown rates in assessment schemes of stream ecological status will be difficult because leaf processing does not respond unequivocally to environmental factors when climatic regions are considered. Thus, regional adjustments of baseline standards in reference conditions will be required.
PB The University of Chicago Press
SN 1937-237X
YR 2011
FD 2011
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/42908
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/42908
LA eng
NO Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (MEC)
NO Universidad del País Vasco (UPV)
NO Gobierno Vasco
DS Docta Complutense
RD 24 ago 2024