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Leaf-litter decomposition across three flooding regimes in a seasonally flooded Amazonian watershed

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Krista A. Capps ,
Manuel A. S. Graça ,
Andrea C. Encalada  and
Alexander S. Flecker
Krista A. Capps*
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
Manuel A. S. Graça
Affiliation:
IMAR-CMA & Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Andrea C. Encalada
Affiliation:
IMAR-CMA & Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Laboratorio de Ecología Acuática, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
Alexander S. Flecker
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
*
1Corresponding author. Email: kac98@cornell.edu
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Extract

Decomposition of leaf litter is an important process that releases energy and nutrients in both terrestrial and aquatic environments (Moore et al. 2004, Wallace et al. 1997); therefore, the physical, chemical and biological processes controlling leaf-litter decomposition rates can affect nutrient cycling and productivity in these systems (Cross et al. 2007, Wood et al. 2009). Several studies have shown that leaf decomposition is faster in aquatic than in terrestrial habitats due to relatively constant temperatures, continuous leaching and the physical breakdown of leaves by flowing water (Hutchens & Wallace 2002, Langhans & Tockner 2006, Langhans et al. 2008). Yet, comparatively few studies have examined these relationships in tropical systems with flooded forests. Flooding is a predominant feature of the upper Amazon Basin, but its occurrence and magnitude is complex and not strictly seasonal (Junk et al. 1989). To identify the dominant energy pathways and understand the nutrient dynamics of upper Amazon rain forests, it is imperative to investigate organic matter processing in the aquatic/terrestrial transition zones of these ecosystems.

Keywords

decompositionergosterolInga punctataleaf littermicrobial decomposersstream ecologyTiputini Biodiversity StationTriplaris dugandiitropical
Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , March 2011 , pp. 205 - 210
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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References

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