Open AccessProcessing of willow leaves in two Alberta Rocky Mountain streams
Author(s) -
Mutch Robert A.,
Davies Ronald W.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1984.tb01118.x
Subject(s) - streams , benthos , willow , environmental science , ecology , hydrology (agriculture) , biology , geology , benthic zone , computer network , geotechnical engineering , computer science
Nylon bags of 3.5 mm and 0.25 mm mesh were used lo investigate the processing of Salix drummondiana Barratt leaves in two second order Alberta Rocky Mountain Creeks, Twin Creek and Cabin Creek. Micro‐organism processing and macroinvertebrate shredding of the leaves were significantly greater in Twin Creek where it was estimated that macroinvertebrate shredding was responsible for 45% of the weight loss. The decay coefficient (k = 0.0209) for the leaves in Twin Creek, the more typical Rocky Mountain stream, was similar to that reported for the fastest decaying leaves in warmer streams. The predominant shredder among the leaves in the mesh bags, Zapada columbiana (Classen) (Plecoptera, Nemouridae) was also the most abundant macroinvertebrate in the benthos of Twin Creek. In Cabin Creek the predominant organism in the benthos, Oreogeton sp. was poorly represented in the leaves. Low orthophosphate concentration of the water and precipitation of calcium carbonate onto the leaves may have inhibited the biotic processing of leaves in Cabin Creek.