HR: 1330h
AN: NB33I-13    [Abstracts]
TI: Effects of Crayfish on Quality of Fine Particulate Organic Matter
AU: * Montemarano, J J
EM: jmontema@kent.edu
AF: Kent State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent, OH 44242 United States
AU: Kershner, M W
EM: mkershne@kent.edu
AF: Kent State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent, OH 44242 United States
AU: Leff, L G
EM: lleff@kent.edu
AF: Kent State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent, OH 44242 United States
AB: The origin and ontogeny of detritus often determines its bioavailability. Crayfish shred and consume detrital organic matter, influencing fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) availability, composition and quality. Given consumption of FPOM by many invertebrates, crayfish can indirectly affect these organisms by altering FPOM bioavailability through organic matter fragmentation, biofilm disturbance, and defecation. These effects may or may not vary among coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) from different leaf species. To assess crayfish effects on FPOM quality, crayfish were fed stream-conditioned maple or oak leaves in hanging 1-mm mesh-bottom baskets in aquaria. After 12 h, crayfish and remaining leaves were removed. FPOM fragments that fell through the mesh were vacuum filtered and analyzed for percent organic matter, C:N ratio, and bacterial abundance. The same analyses were conducted on crayfish feces collected using finger cots encasing crayfish abdomens. C:N ratios did not differ between feces and maple leaf CPOM, but were lower in FPOM produced through fragmentation and disturbance (P = 0.023). Overall, crayfish alter the ontogeny of detritus, which may, in turn, affect stream FPOM dynamics.
DE: 9901 NABS Student Award - Basic Research
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly