HR: 10:30h
AN: NB32F-01    [Abstracts]
TI: Organic Matter Dynamics in a Forested Floodplain of Northwest Spain
AU: * Pardo, I
EM: ipardo@uvigo.es
AF: University of Vigo, Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, Vigo, PO 36310 Spain
AU: Tibbets, T
AF: University of New Mexico, Department of Biology, Albuquerque, NM 87131 United States
AU: Alvarez, M
AF: University of Vigo, Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, Vigo, PO 36310 Spain
AB: The Begonte Atlantic floodplain, a catchment of the Rio Mi¤o in Spain, is unregulated and still retains a native floodplain forest. To study how hydrology and forest characteristics influence organic matter (OM) inputs and processing in aquatic and terrestrial habitats, we measured forest production and nutrients in for three years at four locations along the Begonte floodplain. The study areas differ in forest species composition, flooding frequency and duration. During 2000-2001, a 50-year record rainfall caused frequent flooding. In contrast, no floods occured during 2001-2002. Litterfall, OM (POM and CPOM), and leaf processing were measured in streams and the forest-floor. Total litterfall ranged from 478.44-758.96 gm^-2yr^-1. Litterfall nitrogen and phosphorous inputs ranged from 6.9-15.2 gNm^-2yr^-1 and 0.25-0.36 gPm^-2yr^-1. Alder processing was always faster than oak, with similar rates in the two streams and the oak forest. Lowest processing rates of alder and oak occurred in alder forest. C:N and N:P for litterfall and POM indicate a higher recycling efficiency in the lower-nutrient oak forest compared to the nutrient-rich alder forest. High P content in POM after the wet flooded year, nearly double that measured the driest year, may be a consequence of hydrology and nutrient uptake by forest vegetation.
DE: 9810 New fields (not classifiable under other headings)
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly