Environmental drivers of leaf breakdown in an urban watershed

摘要: AbstractLeaf-litter breakdown is an important ecosystem process in urban streams, but urbanization may have complicated effects on rates. Low abundance of macroinvertebrate shredders slow breakdown, rates increase if high nutrient concentrations stimulate microbial decomposers or flooding enhances leaf fragmentation. We measured the relative importance multiple environmental drivers eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) leaves at 5 sites urbanized North Branch Chicago River watershed. Few specialized were present, generalist macroinvertebrates, including isopods (Asellus aquaticus) and amphipods (Gammarus sp.) abundant all sites. tested rate large- small-mesh bags. discharge, concentrations, benthic community composition, subwatershed land use each site. Leaf differed significantly among between...