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Communication at the NABS Annual meeting, Keystone, 2000
(401) STORAGE AND PROCESSING OF BURIED ORGANIC MATTER IN 3 INTERMITTENT ALABAMA COASTAL PLAIN STREAMS.
K.M. Fritz1, J.W. Feminella1, B.G. Lockaby2, R.B. Rummer3, and C. Colson2. 1Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, 2School of Forestry, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, 3USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849
Our primary objective was to assess the relative importance of riparian tree roots, wood, and leaves as food and/or microhabitat for invertebrate and microbial assemblages in 3 intermittent coastal plain streams. Streambed and bank sediment samples were collected during autumn 1998 by coring to depth of 30 cm. CPOM was separated from 3 depths (0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm) into 3 categories: live tree roots, dead tree roots, and leaf litter/wood. Breakdown rates of buried roots (4 size categories), wood (popsicle sticks), and leaves (5 spp) also were quantified (mesh bag method). Mesh bags containing artificial roots (polyethylene and nylon) also were incubated to separate potential role of riparian roots as a food source and stable substratum. Preliminary results indicate that leaf/wood detritus dominated the upper bed CPOM (86%) and declined with depth. Live root biomass declined less with depth, and therefore contributed a higher percentage of total OM within deeper bed sediments. Dead roots contributed < 1% of CPOM at the upper depth, but increased to 6% at 20-30 cm depth. Breakdown rates were faster for buried leaves (k =0.006) than roots (k = 0.002) or wood (k = 0.001).
Presented at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, May 31, 2000 in Organic Matter Processing
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