Land use effects on leaf litter breakdown in low-order streams draining a rapidly developing tropical watershed in Puerto Rico
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Universidad de Costa Rica
2014
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| _version_ | 1876483771306344448 |
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| author | Pedro J. Torres |
| author_facet | Pedro J. Torres |
| contents | Land use effects on leaf litter breakdown in low-order streams draining a rapidly developing tropical watershed in Puerto Rico Pedro J. Torres Alonso Ramírez Biología land use decay rates Puerto Rico detritivores human impacts Land use has an important role influencing stream ecosystem processes, such as leaf litter breakdown. Here, we assessed rates of leaf litter breakdown in low-order tropical streams draining forest, agriculture, and urban land uses in Puerto Rico. To measure leaf breakdown rates, we placed litter bags made of coarse mesh in nine streams, three for each land use type. At each stream, we measured changes in leaf mass over time, leaf breakdown rates, macroinvertebrate assemblages, and stream physicochemistry. Streams differed in their water physicochemistry, with urban streams showing high values for most variables. Stream physical habitat was evaluated using a visual assessment protocol, which indicated that agricultural and urban streams were more degraded than forested streams. Leaf breakdown rates were fast in all streams (k values ranging 0.006- 0.024). Breakdown rates were significantly related to the physical conditions of the stream channel (e.g., visual protocol scores), with fastest rates in forested streams. Invertebrates colonizing leaves were mainly mayflies (Leptophlebiidae, Baetidae, and Caenidae), dipterans (Chironomidae), caddisflies (Polycentropodidae), and beetles (Elmidae and Gyrinidae). Our streams lacked large decapod populations, contrasting with other Puerto Rican streams. We found little evidence for an insect effect on leaf breakdown. Results suggest that land use is an important factor affecting leaf litter processing in streams. In contrast to studies in temperate regions, we found little evidence for a positive nutrient related effect of agricultural land use on decomposition rates. Changes in the physical characteristics of streams appear to be the main drivers behind observed decomposition patterns. 2014 artículo científico 0034-7744 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44932430009 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=449 Revista de Biología Tropical application/pdf Universidad de Costa Rica Revista de Biología Tropical (Costa Rica) Num.2 Vol.62 |
| format | Artículo científico |
| id | redalyc_44932430009 |
| institution | Redalyc |
| language | en |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publisher | Universidad de Costa Rica |
| spellingShingle | Land use effects on leaf litter breakdown in low-order streams draining a rapidly developing tropical watershed in Puerto Rico Pedro J. Torres Biología land use decay rates Puerto Rico detritivores human impacts Land use effects on leaf litter breakdown in low-order streams draining a rapidly developing tropical watershed in Puerto Rico Pedro J. Torres Alonso Ramírez Biología land use decay rates Puerto Rico detritivores human impacts Land use has an important role influencing stream ecosystem processes, such as leaf litter breakdown. Here, we assessed rates of leaf litter breakdown in low-order tropical streams draining forest, agriculture, and urban land uses in Puerto Rico. To measure leaf breakdown rates, we placed litter bags made of coarse mesh in nine streams, three for each land use type. At each stream, we measured changes in leaf mass over time, leaf breakdown rates, macroinvertebrate assemblages, and stream physicochemistry. Streams differed in their water physicochemistry, with urban streams showing high values for most variables. Stream physical habitat was evaluated using a visual assessment protocol, which indicated that agricultural and urban streams were more degraded than forested streams. Leaf breakdown rates were fast in all streams (k values ranging 0.006- 0.024). Breakdown rates were significantly related to the physical conditions of the stream channel (e.g., visual protocol scores), with fastest rates in forested streams. Invertebrates colonizing leaves were mainly mayflies (Leptophlebiidae, Baetidae, and Caenidae), dipterans (Chironomidae), caddisflies (Polycentropodidae), and beetles (Elmidae and Gyrinidae). Our streams lacked large decapod populations, contrasting with other Puerto Rican streams. We found little evidence for an insect effect on leaf breakdown. Results suggest that land use is an important factor affecting leaf litter processing in streams. In contrast to studies in temperate regions, we found little evidence for a positive nutrient related effect of agricultural land use on decomposition rates. Changes in the physical characteristics of streams appear to be the main drivers behind observed decomposition patterns. 2014 artículo científico 0034-7744 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44932430009 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=449 Revista de Biología Tropical application/pdf Universidad de Costa Rica Revista de Biología Tropical (Costa Rica) Num.2 Vol.62 |
| title | Land use effects on leaf litter breakdown in low-order streams draining a rapidly developing tropical watershed in Puerto Rico |
| topic | Biología land use decay rates Puerto Rico detritivores human impacts |
| url | https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44932430009 |