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Harvard Forest Symposium Abstract 2011
- Title: Preferential Breakdown of Species-Specific Detritus in Small New-England Streams
- Primary Author: Jonathan Jones (College of the Holy Cross)
- Additional Authors: William Sobczak (College of the Holy Cross)
- Abstract:
In a time of uncertain climate, ecosystems are at risk of losing particularly sensitive species. Research has shown species loss to be non-random with important implications for litter decomposition dynamics in small forested streams. We sought to explore the synergistic effects of varying litter composition by controlling the additive (presence/absence) and non-additive (species richness) components of bioavailable course particulate organic matter in a series of mesh bag leaf packs in small New England headwater streams. By varying the composition of species within a constant ten gram leaf pack for six different combinations in first and second order streams for a period of ninety days, we were able to determine if the presence of certain species and the relative proportion of species would have an overall effect on decomposition rates. Alterations in decomposition rates may influence the total load of organic matter deposited into the Quabbin Reservoir, Boston’s primary supply of drinking water. Due to the preferential loss of sensitive species such as the Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), it is becoming more evident that ecosystem alterations associated with non-random species decline may perpetually alter the carbon cycle in these small detritus-based streams.
- Research Category: Physiological Ecology, Population Dynamics, and Species Interactions
Watershed Ecology
