Decomposition of different organic matter substrates and algal biomass accrual as early warning indicators of human impacts on stream ecosystems
Stream ecosystems are subjected to multiple anthropogenic impacts, and tools are needed that serve as early warning indicators of such impacts on ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. Here, we compared several natural and commercial substrates (namely several leaf litter types, cotton strips, and...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-09-01
|
| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25009288 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Stream ecosystems are subjected to multiple anthropogenic impacts, and tools are needed that serve as early warning indicators of such impacts on ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. Here, we compared several natural and commercial substrates (namely several leaf litter types, cotton strips, and others) as tools to rapidly detect changes in the key processes of organic matter decomposition and periphytic algal biomass accrual, and their associated biological assemblages, in stream sites impacted by agricultural land use compared to control sites in northern Spain. At the end of our experiment, which lasted for approximately one month, alder leaf litter was the only substrate detecting significant changes in total decomposition (i.e., decomposition mediated by both microorganisms and detritivores). Decomposition was reduced at impacted sites, where associated leaf litter-feeding detritivore assemblages contained more pollution-tolerant taxa. Several substrates (banana leaf litter, green and red teabags, and cotton strips) detected changes in microbial decomposition, which increased at impacted sites, with teabags being particularly useful to identify changes in microbial decomposer assemblages. Using marble tiles, we were able to detect alterations in algal assemblages, which were more productive and contained more tolerant taxa at impacted sites. Lastly, information provided by oak leaf litter and tongue depressors was limited. Our results showed that, although a combination of substrates should be prioritized in assessment programs to provide a complete picture of anthropogenic impacts on stream ecosystems, the single use of substrates can be efficient to detect certain responses (e.g., cotton strips or banana leaves for heterotrophic microbial responses, marble tiles for autotrophic processes, and alder leaf litter for total decomposition and associated detritivores). |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1470-160X |