Macroinvertebrate colonisation associated with native and invasive leaf litter decomposition
Lake and reservoir ecosystems are regarded as heterotrophic detritus-based habitats which are dependent on both autochthonous and allochthonous organic matter for the majority of energy inputs. In particular, allochthonous detritus is in particular important for the trophic dynamics of microbial org...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
EDP Sciences
2020-01-01
|
Series: | Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.kmae-journal.org/articles/kmae/full_html/2020/01/kmae200009/kmae200009.html |
id |
doaj-e2a4e0651c9e4d8aa074d7aeb7a0a2c9 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-e2a4e0651c9e4d8aa074d7aeb7a0a2c92020-11-25T03:17:42ZengEDP SciencesKnowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems1961-95022020-01-0104213210.1051/kmae/2020025kmae200009Macroinvertebrate colonisation associated with native and invasive leaf litter decompositionMutshekwa Thendo0Cuthbert Ross N.1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2770-254XWasserman Ryan J.Murungweni Florence M.2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4742-0139Dalu Tatendahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9019-7702Aquatic Systems Research Group, Department of Ecology and Resource Management, University of VendaGEOMAR, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung KielAquatic Systems Research Group, Department of Ecology and Resource Management, University of VendaLake and reservoir ecosystems are regarded as heterotrophic detritus-based habitats which are dependent on both autochthonous and allochthonous organic matter for the majority of energy inputs. In particular, allochthonous detritus is in particular important for the trophic dynamics of microbial organisms, macroinvertebrates and benthic plants in freshwaters. Here, we assess macroinvertebrate colonisation, and quantify decomposition rates, of leaf litter from species of native and invasive plants in a small agricultural reservoir. Native fig Ficus sycomorus and silver cluster–leaf Terminalia sericea were compared to invasive tickberry Lantana camara and guava Psidium guajava, whereby macroinvertebrate colonisation was assessed over time. Leaf treatments had a significant, group-specific effect on abundances and composition among focal macroinvertebrates. Invasive leaves reduced Physidae and Oligochaeta abundances, yet Ostracoda were significantly more abundant in the presence of invasive P. guajava. Chironomidae relative abundances increased under invasive L. camara treatments, whilst differences among leaf treatment effects on Coenogrionidae abundances were not statistically clear. In turn, macroinvertebrate diversity did not differ significantly among plant treatment groups. The decomposition rate of the leaf litter demonstrated differences among the species, following a decreasing order of L. camara > F. sycomorus > T. sericea > P. guajava. The study results highlight that leaf litter species identity among invasive and native plants plays an important role in the colonisation of macroinvertebrates in small reservoirs, thereby differentially supporting aquatic environments and food webs. However, differences were not uniform across invader-native groupings. Nonetheless, certain invasive leaf litter decomposes faster than native litter, with possible implications for broader nutrient dynamics and subsequent community composition.https://www.kmae-journal.org/articles/kmae/full_html/2020/01/kmae200009/kmae200009.htmlmacroinvertebratesallochthonousleaf litter decompositionnativeinvasive |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Mutshekwa Thendo Cuthbert Ross N. Wasserman Ryan J. Murungweni Florence M. Dalu Tatenda |
spellingShingle |
Mutshekwa Thendo Cuthbert Ross N. Wasserman Ryan J. Murungweni Florence M. Dalu Tatenda Macroinvertebrate colonisation associated with native and invasive leaf litter decomposition Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems macroinvertebrates allochthonous leaf litter decomposition native invasive |
author_facet |
Mutshekwa Thendo Cuthbert Ross N. Wasserman Ryan J. Murungweni Florence M. Dalu Tatenda |
author_sort |
Mutshekwa Thendo |
title |
Macroinvertebrate colonisation associated with native and invasive leaf litter decomposition |
title_short |
Macroinvertebrate colonisation associated with native and invasive leaf litter decomposition |
title_full |
Macroinvertebrate colonisation associated with native and invasive leaf litter decomposition |
title_fullStr |
Macroinvertebrate colonisation associated with native and invasive leaf litter decomposition |
title_full_unstemmed |
Macroinvertebrate colonisation associated with native and invasive leaf litter decomposition |
title_sort |
macroinvertebrate colonisation associated with native and invasive leaf litter decomposition |
publisher |
EDP Sciences |
series |
Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems |
issn |
1961-9502 |
publishDate |
2020-01-01 |
description |
Lake and reservoir ecosystems are regarded as heterotrophic detritus-based habitats which are dependent on both autochthonous and allochthonous organic matter for the majority of energy inputs. In particular, allochthonous detritus is in particular important for the trophic dynamics of microbial organisms, macroinvertebrates and benthic plants in freshwaters. Here, we assess macroinvertebrate colonisation, and quantify decomposition rates, of leaf litter from species of native and invasive plants in a small agricultural reservoir. Native fig Ficus sycomorus and silver cluster–leaf Terminalia sericea were compared to invasive tickberry Lantana camara and guava Psidium guajava, whereby macroinvertebrate colonisation was assessed over time. Leaf treatments had a significant, group-specific effect on abundances and composition among focal macroinvertebrates. Invasive leaves reduced Physidae and Oligochaeta abundances, yet Ostracoda were significantly more abundant in the presence of invasive P. guajava. Chironomidae relative abundances increased under invasive L. camara treatments, whilst differences among leaf treatment effects on Coenogrionidae abundances were not statistically clear. In turn, macroinvertebrate diversity did not differ significantly among plant treatment groups. The decomposition rate of the leaf litter demonstrated differences among the species, following a decreasing order of L. camara > F. sycomorus > T. sericea > P. guajava. The study results highlight that leaf litter species identity among invasive and native plants plays an important role in the colonisation of macroinvertebrates in small reservoirs, thereby differentially supporting aquatic environments and food webs. However, differences were not uniform across invader-native groupings. Nonetheless, certain invasive leaf litter decomposes faster than native litter, with possible implications for broader nutrient dynamics and subsequent community composition. |
topic |
macroinvertebrates allochthonous leaf litter decomposition native invasive |
url |
https://www.kmae-journal.org/articles/kmae/full_html/2020/01/kmae200009/kmae200009.html |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT mutshekwathendo macroinvertebratecolonisationassociatedwithnativeandinvasiveleaflitterdecomposition AT cuthbertrossn macroinvertebratecolonisationassociatedwithnativeandinvasiveleaflitterdecomposition AT wassermanryanj macroinvertebratecolonisationassociatedwithnativeandinvasiveleaflitterdecomposition AT murungweniflorencem macroinvertebratecolonisationassociatedwithnativeandinvasiveleaflitterdecomposition AT dalutatenda macroinvertebratecolonisationassociatedwithnativeandinvasiveleaflitterdecomposition |
_version_ |
1724630568869560320 |