HR: 14:15h
AN: NB33U-04 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Skeletons in the Stream: A Temporal Study of In-Stream Leaf Decomposition
AU: * DelMonte, J M
EM: delmjess@isu.edu
AF: Idaho State University, Department of Biological Sciences Campus Box 8007, Pocatello, ID 83201 United States
AU: Minshall, G W
EM: minswayn@isu.edu
AF: Idaho State University, Department of Biological Sciences Campus Box 8007, Pocatello, ID 83201 United States
AU: Smith, R J
EM: smitrose@isu.edu
AF: Idaho State University, Department of Biological Sciences Campus Box 8007, Pocatello, ID 83201 United States
AB: Allochthonous leaf litter plays a pivotal role in streams. Laboratory exercises highlighting its ecological role can examine several components simultaneously. The rate of leaf decomposition is an ecosystem-level process that represents the composite effects of microbial, invertebrate, and physical activity. Leaves that fall into streams often cluster together in "packs" behind rocks and woody debris. In this exercise, students construct leaf packs by collecting leaves from surrounding vegetation or the ground. The leaves are placed into plastic mesh bags and secured in the stream. Subsets of the packs are collected at weekly intervals, colonizing invertebrates are removed and identified, and the remaining leaf material is dried and weighed. Students design and carry out their own experiments, the broad areas of which can include; (1) decomposition rates among streams or leaf type, (2) upstream-downstream effects, (3) distribution of shredding invertebrates, and (4) land-use correlations. We will present examples of results from both high school and college level experiments along with recommendations for successful implementation.
DE: 0825 Teaching methods
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly