HR: 1330h
AN: NB33E-11    [Abstracts]
TI: Decomposition of Reintroduced Native Cane in a Restored Stream Channel
AU: * Pirkle, R S
EM: richard.pirkle@louisville.edu
AF: University of Louisville, Department of Biology, Louisville, KY 40292 United States
AU: Word, D A
EM: david.word@louisville.edu
AF: University of Louisville, Department of Biology, Louisville, KY 40292 United States
AU: Carper, S
EM: sccarp01@louisville.edu
AF: University of Louisville, Department of Biology, Louisville, KY 40292 United States
AU: Jack, J D
EM: jeff.jack@louisville.edu
AF: University of Louisville, Department of Biology, Louisville, KY 40292 United States
AB: Stream restorations are often coupled with efforts to restore riparian zones. Native plants are often used in restored riparian areas but their effects on the streams (e.g. as a carbon subsidy) are not often assessed as part of a restoration evaluation. A channelized reach of Wilson Creek (Kentucky, USA) was relocated using natural channel design techniques and its new riparian zone was planted with a variety of native species including the river cane, Arundinaria gigantean, which was once a common riparian species in Kentucky. We installed decomposition packs containing stems or leaves of the cane at five locations in the restored section of Wilson Creek, one in an unrestored upstream site and at two locations in two unrestored reference streams to assess mass loss, N dynamics and fungal colonization. Initial results indicate that regardless of site leaf mass loss was faster in Wilson Creek than in the two reference streams (0.019% per day vs. 0.007%); stalk mass losses show similar trends to date. Research is continuing at Wilson to assess the performance of native vegetation at the site and to understand the role of riparian zone species in the success or failure of stream restorations.
DE: 1800 HYDROLOGY
DE: 1803 Anthropogenic effects
DE: 1899 General or miscellaneous
DE: 9810 New fields (not classifiable under other headings)
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly