HR: 1330h
AN: NB33I-19    [Abstracts]
TI: Comparison of Leaf Breakdown for Native and Non-native Riparian Species in Streams Draining Urban, Agricultural, and Forested Land Cover.
AU: * Powers, M D
EM: mapower2@vt.edu
AF: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Biology, Blacksburg, VA 24060 United States
AU: Benfield, E F
EM: benfield@vt.edu
AF: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Biology, Blacksburg, VA 24060 United States
AB: Organic matter breakdown rates in streams vary among riparian tree species and are dependent on a variety of in-stream biological, chemical, and physical factors. These factors and the composition and distribution of riparian vegetation are changed by anthropogenic modification of the landscape. This may result in altered energy flow through stream ecosystems that is reflected in changes in organic matter input and breakdown. The goal of this study was to compare leaf breakdown rates between a native (box elder, Acer negundo) and non-native (weeping willow, Salix babylonica) species among three land cover categories: urban, agricultural, and forested. We conducted this study over 14 weeks in 13 streams near Roanoke, Virginia. Box elder occurs naturally along disturbed riparian corridors in this region, while weeping willow has been actively planted for its aesthetic value. Our results indicate weeping willow breakdown rates were faster than box elder across all land cover categories. Breakdown rates for both species were slowest in the urban streams, intermediate in agricultural streams, and fastest in forested streams.
DE: 1640 Remote sensing
DE: 1803 Anthropogenic effects
DE: 1815 Erosion and sedimentation
DE: 1860 Runoff and streamflow
DE: 9901 NABS Student Award - Basic Research
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly