Organic matter characterization and decomposition dynamics in sub-Antarctic streams impacted by invasive beavers
Despite being a relatively remote and well conserved area, the sub-Antarctic ecoregion faces pressing global threats from climate change, the ozone hole and introduced species. Its freshwater ecosystems are one of the least studied components of this biome, but they are known to confront a host of i...
Published in: | Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research |
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2012
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fteastcaroluni:oai:TheScholarship.intra.ecu.edu:10342/7897 2023-05-15T13:51:01+02:00 Organic matter characterization and decomposition dynamics in sub-Antarctic streams impacted by invasive beavers Caracterización de la materia orgánica y la dinámica de descomposición en arroyos subantárticos impactados por castores invasores Ulloa, Erica Anderson, Christopher B. Ardón, Marcelo Murcia, Silvia Valenzuela, Alejandro E.J. 2012-11 application/pdf http://hdl.handle.net/10342/7897 https://doi.org/10.3856/vol40-issue4-fulltext-6 unknown http://hdl.handle.net/10342/7897 doi:10.3856/vol40-issue4-fulltext-6 Castor canadensis carbon cycle decay rate decomposition leaf packs Nothofagus Article 2012 fteastcaroluni https://doi.org/10.3856/vol40-issue4-fulltext-6 2022-07-11T11:39:57Z Despite being a relatively remote and well conserved area, the sub-Antarctic ecoregion faces pressing global threats from climate change, the ozone hole and introduced species. Its freshwater ecosystems are one of the least studied components of this biome, but they are known to confront a host of invasive taxa including trout and beavers. We set out to understand the basic characterization and dynamics of organic matter processing and decomposition in sub-Antarctic streams under natural forest (NF) conditions and in ponds constructed by North American beavers (Castor canadensis) (BP). We found these streams have a naturally stable benthic organic matter regime throughout the year with a peak in leaf input from Nothofagus pumilio in autumn. Beaver ponds significantly increased the retention of organic matter and caused significantly higher decomposition rates, probably associated with increased density and biomass of Hyalella spp. As expected, leaf decay rates for N. pumilio, a deciduous species, were higher (NF: -0.0028 day^sup -1^ ± 0.0001 SE; BP: -0.0118 day^sup -1^ ± 0.0009 SE) than N. betuloides (a broad-leaf evergreen) (NF: -0.0018 day^sup -1^ ± 0.0005 SE; BP: -0.0040 day^sup -1^ ± 0.0003 SE). Overall these results indicate that the naturally low decomposition rates (slower than 89% of a global survey of decay rates) for these cold, oligotrophic streams are being modified by introduced beavers to resemble more temperate latitudes. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic East Carolina University: The ScholarShip at ECU Antarctic Beaver Ponds ENVELOPE(-57.841,-57.841,49.642,49.642) Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research 40 4 881 892 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
East Carolina University: The ScholarShip at ECU |
op_collection_id |
fteastcaroluni |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Castor canadensis carbon cycle decay rate decomposition leaf packs Nothofagus |
spellingShingle |
Castor canadensis carbon cycle decay rate decomposition leaf packs Nothofagus Ulloa, Erica Anderson, Christopher B. Ardón, Marcelo Murcia, Silvia Valenzuela, Alejandro E.J. Organic matter characterization and decomposition dynamics in sub-Antarctic streams impacted by invasive beavers |
topic_facet |
Castor canadensis carbon cycle decay rate decomposition leaf packs Nothofagus |
description |
Despite being a relatively remote and well conserved area, the sub-Antarctic ecoregion faces pressing global threats from climate change, the ozone hole and introduced species. Its freshwater ecosystems are one of the least studied components of this biome, but they are known to confront a host of invasive taxa including trout and beavers. We set out to understand the basic characterization and dynamics of organic matter processing and decomposition in sub-Antarctic streams under natural forest (NF) conditions and in ponds constructed by North American beavers (Castor canadensis) (BP). We found these streams have a naturally stable benthic organic matter regime throughout the year with a peak in leaf input from Nothofagus pumilio in autumn. Beaver ponds significantly increased the retention of organic matter and caused significantly higher decomposition rates, probably associated with increased density and biomass of Hyalella spp. As expected, leaf decay rates for N. pumilio, a deciduous species, were higher (NF: -0.0028 day^sup -1^ ± 0.0001 SE; BP: -0.0118 day^sup -1^ ± 0.0009 SE) than N. betuloides (a broad-leaf evergreen) (NF: -0.0018 day^sup -1^ ± 0.0005 SE; BP: -0.0040 day^sup -1^ ± 0.0003 SE). Overall these results indicate that the naturally low decomposition rates (slower than 89% of a global survey of decay rates) for these cold, oligotrophic streams are being modified by introduced beavers to resemble more temperate latitudes. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ulloa, Erica Anderson, Christopher B. Ardón, Marcelo Murcia, Silvia Valenzuela, Alejandro E.J. |
author_facet |
Ulloa, Erica Anderson, Christopher B. Ardón, Marcelo Murcia, Silvia Valenzuela, Alejandro E.J. |
author_sort |
Ulloa, Erica |
title |
Organic matter characterization and decomposition dynamics in sub-Antarctic streams impacted by invasive beavers |
title_short |
Organic matter characterization and decomposition dynamics in sub-Antarctic streams impacted by invasive beavers |
title_full |
Organic matter characterization and decomposition dynamics in sub-Antarctic streams impacted by invasive beavers |
title_fullStr |
Organic matter characterization and decomposition dynamics in sub-Antarctic streams impacted by invasive beavers |
title_full_unstemmed |
Organic matter characterization and decomposition dynamics in sub-Antarctic streams impacted by invasive beavers |
title_sort |
organic matter characterization and decomposition dynamics in sub-antarctic streams impacted by invasive beavers |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/7897 https://doi.org/10.3856/vol40-issue4-fulltext-6 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-57.841,-57.841,49.642,49.642) |
geographic |
Antarctic Beaver Ponds |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Beaver Ponds |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/7897 doi:10.3856/vol40-issue4-fulltext-6 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3856/vol40-issue4-fulltext-6 |
container_title |
Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research |
container_volume |
40 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
881 |
op_container_end_page |
892 |
_version_ |
1766254589079715840 |