Colorado mountains
 

Mass Loss: A Quantitative Synthesis Of Leaf Decomposition In Streams And Rivers

Poster Number: 
29
Presenter/Primary Author: 
Jennifer Follstad...
Co-Authors: 
Marcelo Ardon, Eastern Carolina University
Co-Authors: 
John Kominoski, University of Georgia/Coweeta LTER
Co-Authors: 
Walter Dodds, Kansas State University/Konza LTER
Co-Authors: 
Mark Gessner, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
Co-Authors: 
Natalie Griffiths, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Co-Authors: 
Sherri Johnson, U.S. Forest Service/Andrews LTER
Co-Authors: 
Antoine Lecerf, University of Toulouse
Co-Authors: 
Carri LeRoy, Evergreen College
Co-Authors: 
David Manning, University of Georgia/Coweeta LTER
Co-Authors: 
Amy Rosemond, University of Georgia/Coweeta LTER
Co-Authors: 
Chris Swan, University of Maryland-Baltimore County/BES LTER
Co-Authors: 
Jack Webster, Virginia Tech/Coweeta LTER
Co-Authors: 
Lydia Zeglin, Oregon State University/Andrews LTER

Freshwater ecosystems play a significant role in the global carbon (C) cycle, emitting roughly 1.2 Pg C y-1 to the atmosphere. The majority of the CO2 degassed from freshwaters comes from the decomposition of allochthonous leaf litter inputs. Rates of decomposition, and thus CO2 degassing, should increase with rising water temperature. However, temperature is one of myriad intrinsic and extrinsic factors controlling decomposition. Through the Meta-Analysis and SynthesiS of Leaf decOmposition in StreamS (MASS LOSS) project, we have compiled over 3000 records of leaf litter decomposition from streams and rivers located on 5 continents. These records also include data from several LTER sites. With the goal of improved prediction of decomposition rate response to global change in mind, we are using this database to answer the following questions: What is the apparent activation energy of decomposition? Does it vary based on leaf bag mesh size or plant taxonomy? How much variation in decomposition is explained by temperature vs. other intrinsic (e.g., leaf chemistry) and extrinsic (e.g., stream order, macroinvertebrate density) factors? Do interactions exist? Are these patterns similar to those observed for terrestrial ecosystems?

 
 
Background Photo by: Nicole Hansen - Jornada (JRN) LTER