2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

5/21/2018 | 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM | LEAF LITTER DECOMPOSITION IN EUTROPHIC PONDS | 321

LEAF LITTER DECOMPOSITION IN EUTROPHIC PONDS

Nutrient enrichment and pond construction are prevalent watersheds alterations. Nutrient enrichment stimulates primary production in both streams and ponds, resulting in eutrophication. In streams, nutrient enrichment can accelerate litter decomposition, suggesting direct nutrient limitation of heterotrophs. However less is known about the interaction of nutrient enrichment and heterotrophy in ponds. Our research shows that ponds in central Virginia are both eutrophic and have high terrestrial leaf litter standing stocks (mean = 189.5 g AFDM m^-2). In these ponds, litter decomposition is slow (mean k = 0.0030 d^-1) and is likely inhibited by the effects of eutrophy (e.g., hypoxia, reduced animal diversity, etc...). Using microcosm experiments, we show that nutrient enrichment does not directly stimulate leaf litter decomposition in these ponds. However, other experiments show greater leaf decomposition when leaf litter is in contact with sediments from eutrophic ponds. These results suggest that the impact of eutrophication on litter decomposition in ponds may be indirect and complex.

Carbon
Detritus
Lentic

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Presenters/Authors

Kenneth Fortino (), Longwood University, fortinok@longwood.edu;