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Leaf litter processing of Anacardium excelsum in a tropical intermittent stream of Northwestern Venezuela

Abstract:

Some factors influencing leaf litter breakdown of Anacardium excelsum were examined in two habitats, a pool and a riffle, of Carichuano Creek, a second order intermittent stream of Northwestern Venezuela. Litter bags were incubated in a riffle and a pool section in the stream, and mass loss was determined after 3, 6, 13 and 20 days. The processing rates (-k) of the leaves in the riffle (0.01722/day) differed significantly from those observed in the pool (0.01255/day), Conidia production increased rapidly (6d) in the riffle and slowly in the pool (13d). Macroinvertebrate densities were extremely low (<8ind/gr AFDW). Invertebrates colonized rapidly the litter bags maintained in both habitats, but densities were higher in bags incubated in the riffle. It is suggested that physical abrasion caused by current velocity and an enhanced microbial activity may explain the differences observed in leaf litter processing of A. excelsum in these two habitats, while macroinvertebrates had a low participation on litter decomposition.