The Relative Roles of Temperature and Macroinvertebrates in the Processing of Leaf Litter in a Warm-Water Texas Stream

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dc.contributor.advisorShort, Robert A.
dc.contributor.authorSmith, Stephen Lee
dc.contributor.committeeMemberWhiteside, Bobby G.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberTomasso, Joseph R.
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-03T20:53:41Z
dc.date.available2024-01-03T20:53:41Z
dc.date.issued1984-08
dc.description.abstractPrevious studies of leaf litter processing rates in Texas streams have shown that rapid processing occurs despite the apparent lack of a "typical" shredder fauna. Presumably the higher water temperatures in these streams are the primary factor responsible for the rapid processing. However, an alternative may be the existence of "non-typical" shredders. To test the relative effects of macroinvertebrate community and water temperature, the processing of Celtis laevigata leaves was studied in Honey Creek, Texas, a heavily canopied first order, spring-fed stream. Leaf pack experiments conducted during November-January yielded a processing rate (-k=0.083) which was significantly slower (P=0.0001) than for identical experiments conducted during June-August (-k=O. 124). When expressed on a per degree-day bas is, there was no significant difference (P=0.898) between the processing rates, thus demonstrating the dominating effect of temperature. It is hypothesized that leaf processing in such streams results mainly from microbial activities in the absence of a "typical" shredder community.
dc.description.departmentBiology
dc.formatText
dc.format.extent41 pages
dc.format.medium1 file (.pdf)
dc.identifier.citationSmith, S.L. (1984). The relative roles of temperature and macroinvertebrates in the processing of leaf litter in a warm-water Texas stream (Unpublished thesis). Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10877/17883
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectstream ecology
dc.subjectHoney Creek
dc.subjectfreshwater invertebrates
dc.subjectmicrobial respiration
dc.titleThe Relative Roles of Temperature and Macroinvertebrates in the Processing of Leaf Litter in a Warm-Water Texas Stream
dc.typeThesis
thesis.degree.departmentBiology
thesis.degree.disciplineBiology
thesis.degree.grantorSouthwest Texas State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

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