Stream detritus dynamics: Regulation by invertebrate consumers.
Oecologia
; 53(2): 197-200, 1982 Jan.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28311109
ABSTRACT
Insecticide treatment of a small, Appalachian forest stream caused massive downstream insect drift and reduced aquatic insect densities to <10% of an adjacent untreated reference stream. Reduction in breakdown rates of leaf detritus was accompanied by differences in quantity and composition of benthic organic matter between the two streams. Following treatment, transport of particulate organic matter was significantly lower in the treated stream than in the reference stream whereas no significant differences existed prior to treatment. Our results indicate that macroinvertebrate consumers, primarily insects, are important in regulating rates of detritus processing and availability to downstream communities.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Oecologia
Year:
1982
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States