2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

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6/07/2017 | 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM | INFLUENCE OF SALINIZATION ON MICROBIAL AND MACROINVERTEBRATE DIVERSITY AND ORGANIC MATTER DECOMPOSITION IN APPALACHIAN HEADWATER STREAMS | 302C

INFLUENCE OF SALINIZATION ON MICROBIAL AND MACROINVERTEBRATE DIVERSITY AND ORGANIC MATTER DECOMPOSITION IN APPALACHIAN HEADWATER STREAMS

Salinization of freshwater ecosystems is exacerbated by climate change and large-scale landuse disturbances making it a global threat to biodiversity. In theory, reductions in biodiversity should reduce rates of important ecosystem functions such as organic matter decomposition. However, this common theory is mainly based on random species loss in experimental systems whereas biodiversity loss induced by anthropogenic stressors may occur non-randomly, leaving certain tolerant taxonomic groups unaffected. We explored relationships among salinity, biodiversity (microbial and macroinvertebrate), and rates of organic matter decomposition in a stressor-specific field study across 24 Appalachian headwater streams ranging in mining-induced salinity (mean annual conductivity: 25-1500 µS/cm). Following biodiversity-ecosystem function theory, we predicted that high levels of salinity would reduce biodiversity and thus lower rates of decomposition. We found moderate to high levels of salinity reduced macroinvertebrate diversity, especially in taxa known to be sensitive to salinity (e.g. mayflies). However, decomposition rates were unaffected by increasing salinity despite biodiversity loss, contradicting biodiversity-ecosystem function theory. Our results highlight the complex relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functions and will help predict future responses of freshwater ecosystems to widespread salinization.

C22 Disturbance
C31 Organic Matter Processing
C11 Community Ecology

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Presenters/Authors

Ross Vander Vorste (), Rivers Study Center and Department of Biology - University of Wisconsin La Crosse , vandervorste.ross@gmail.com;