2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference

March 13 - 15, 2022

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6/05/2017  |   11:30 AM - 11:45 AM   |  SPATIAL CONSTRAINTS ON CONSUMER COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND ASSOCIATED CARBON PROCESSING IN A RIVER NETWORK   |  305A

SPATIAL CONSTRAINTS ON CONSUMER COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND ASSOCIATED CARBON PROCESSING IN A RIVER NETWORK

River networks have a branching configuration with some reaches more connected to the regional species pool, while other locations, such as headwaters, are more relatively isolated. Evidence is mounting that network position can drive community structure. However, less work has focused on if there are implications for consumer-mediated ecosystem processes. We implemented a study to learn if consumer-resource associations shifted with stream network location. We manipulated resource quality in the form of different leaf litter species in isolated (headwaters) and connected (mainstem) stream reaches, then followed detritivore colonization and litter breakdown rate. While community structure was similar between network locations, richness and abundance were affected by resource quality and network location. Furthermore, headwater environments supported stronger consumer-resource associations that in mainstem environments. Mainstems were likely harsher, thus not conferring the same degree of consumer-resource associations. We conclude that detritivores did not actively feeding on the resources, but rather using the leaf litter as habitat. This suggests that the invertebrate contribution to carbon processing depends not only on resource palatability, but also environmental constraints imposed by network location.

  • C11 Community Ecology
  • C31 Organic Matter Processing
  • S21 Practical applications of metacommunity theory in stream and river management

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Presenters/Authors

Christopher Swan (), University of Maryland Baltimore County, cmswan@umbc.edu;


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Bryan Brown (), Virginia Tech, stonefly@vt.edu;


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