Leaf litter breakdown along an elevational gradient in Australian alpine streams.

ABSTRACT: The breakdown of allochthonous organic matter, is a central step in nutrient cycling in stream ecosystems. There is concern that increased temperatures from climate change will alter the breakdown rate of organic matter, with important consequences for the ecosystem functioning of alpine streams. This study investigated the rate of leaf litter breakdown and how temperature and other factors such as microbial and invertebrate activities influenced this over elevational and temporal gradients. Dried leaves of Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) and cotton strips were deployed in coarse (6 mm), and fine (50 μm) mesh size bags along an 820 m elevation gradient. Loss of mass in leaf litter and cotton tensile strength per day (k per day), fungal biomass measured as ergosterol concentr

SUBMITTER: Werry LP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9596332 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature