Nutrient enrichment alters storage and fluxes of detritus in a headwater stream ecosystem

Jonathan P. Benstead; Jennifer L. Greenwood; Cynthia J. Tant; Amy D. Rosemond; Wyatt F. Cross; J. Bruce Wallace; Sue Eggert; Keller Suberkropp; Vladislav Gulis

Treesearch

Nutrient enrichment alters storage and fluxes of detritus in a headwater stream ecosystem

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Jonathan P. Benstead, Jennifer L. Greenwood, Cynthia J. Tant, Amy D. Rosemond, Wyatt F. Cross, J. Bruce Wallace, Sue Eggert, Keller Suberkropp, Vladislav Gulis

Year:

2009

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

Ecology. 90: 2556-2566.

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Abstract

Responses of detrital pathways to nutrients may differ fundamentally from pathways involving living plants: basal carbon resources can potentially decrease rather than increase with nutrient enrichment. Despite the potential for nutrients to accelerate heterotrophic processes and fluxes of detritus, few studies have examined detritus-nutrient dynamics at whole-ecosystem scales. We quantified organic matter (OM) budgets over three consecutive years in two detritus-based Appalachian (USA) streams. After the first year, we began enriching one stream with low-level nitrogen and phosphorus inputs. Subsequent effects of nutrients on outputs of different OM compartments were determined using randomized intervention analysis.

Keywords

Appalachian (USA) streams, Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, North Carolina, USA, detritus, ecological stoichiometry, nitrogen, nutrient limitation, organic matter budget, phosphorus, soils, streams

Citation

Benstead, Jonathan P.; Rosemond, Amy D.; Cross, Wyatt F.; Wallace, J. Bruce; Eggert, Susan L.; Suberkropp, Keller; Gulis, Vladislav; Greenwood, Jennifer L.; Tant, Cynthia J. 2009. Nutrient enrichment alters storage and fluxes of detritus in a headwater stream ecosystem. Ecology 90:2556-2566.