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Warming, and the presence of a dominant shredder, drive variation in decomposer communities in a mountain stream

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Abstract

We assessed the effects of rising temperature and presence of a dominant detritivore (Allogamus laureatus; Trichoptera, Limnephilidae) on the decomposition of submerged oak litter (Quercus robur L.) and associated detritivore and fungal communities in a mountain stream in central Portugal. It was divided longitudinally, with one half maintained at ambient temperature (mean = 12.4 °C) while the other was warmed ~3 °C above ambient temperature. Oak leaves in litter bags were incubated in both stream halves, with half of the bags containing one A. laureatus larva. Replicate bags were collected over 6 weeks to determine litter mass remaining and the detritivore and fungal communities. A. laureatus stimulated decomposition of oak litter and colonization by other shredders at ambient temperature. It also increased fungal biomass at increased temperature, and changed the community of fungi. Higher temperature inhibited A. laureatus activity, resulting in a substantial change in the strength of interactions within both fungal and detritivore assemblages, with important consequences for leaf litter decomposition.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Cristina Docal for the ion chromatography analyses, and Ana Lírio and João Rosa for valuable help in the field. We also thank the Company Amado and Amado Lda., Coimbra, Portugal, for the help in the construction of the heating tanks and setup of the system in the stream and the Municipality of Lousã, Portugal, for their support and help in the setup of the hydraulic infrastructures and warming facilities. We gratefully acknowledge Prof. Brian Moss and two anonymous reviewers for their comments and suggestions on an earlier version of the manuscript. This study was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the COMPETE––Operational Factors of Competitiveness Program (POFC-COMPETE) and national funds through FCT––Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project “Predicting the effect of global warming on stream ecosystems” (FCT Ref: PTDC/CLI/67180/2006; COMPETE Ref: FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007112). Financial support granted by the FCT to VF (references SFRH/BPD/34368/2006 and SFRH/BPD/76482/2011, program POPH/FSE) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IMAR-Institute of Marine Research, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 30045171, Coimbra, Portugal

    Cátia Domingos, Verónica Ferreira & Cristina Canhoto

  2. Department of Geography and Environmental Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA

    Christopher Swan

Authors
  1. Cátia Domingos
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  2. Verónica Ferreira
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  4. Christopher Swan
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Correspondence to Cátia Domingos.

Appendices

Appendix 1

Taxa recorded in the study area during the experimental period, and their characterization into functional feeding groups (FFG). For Coleoptera, A indicates adult individuals and L indicates larvae.

Higher level

Species

FFG

Order trichoptera

Allogamus laureatus

Shredder

Catagapetus

Grazer

Diplectrona felix

Collector

F. Ecnomidae

Predator

Glossosoma

Grazer

Goera pilosa

Grazer

Helicopsyche helicifex

Grazer

Hydropsyche ambigua

Collector

Lepidostoma hirtum

Shredder

F. Lepidostomatidae

Shredder

Plectronemia laetabilis

Predator

F. Polycentropodinae

Predator

Polycentropus

Predator

Polycentropus corniger

Predator

Rhyacophila lusitanica

Predator

Sericostoma

Shredder

F. Sericostomatidae

Shredder (Generally)

Order ephemeroptera

Acentrella sinaica

Grazer

Baetis

Grazer

Centroptilum

Grazer

Ecdyonurus

Grazer

Ephemerella

Shredder/grazer

Habroleptoides

Grazer

Habrophlebia

Shredder

Order plecoptera

Capnia

Shredder

Chloroperla

Shredder

Isoperla

Shredder

Leuctridae

Shredder

Nemoura

Shredder

F. Nemouridae

Shredders/collectors

Protonemura

Shredder

Order coleoptera

Chyphon (L)

Grazer

Coelambus (A)

Shredder/piercer

Coelostoma (A)

No information

Copelatus (A)

Shredder

Elmis (L)

Grazer

Elodes (L)

Grazer

Helophorus

Shredder

Hydraena (A)

Grazer

Macroplea (A)

Shredder

Microcara (L)

Grazer

Noterus (A)

Shredder/predator

Octhebius (A)

Grazer

Oulimnius (A)

Grazer

Platambus (L)

Shredder/piercer

Odonata

Condulegaster

Predator

Calopterix

Predator

Order diptera

Atherix

Piercer

Tr. Chironomini

Collector

sF. Clinocerinae

Predator

Dixa

Collector

Athichopogon

No information

sF. Hemerodromiinae

Predator

sF. Orthocladinae

Grazer

Tr. Prosimuliini

Collector

F. Rhagionidae

No information

Tr Simuliini

Collector

sF. Tanypodinae

Predator

Tr. Tanytarsini

Collector

Tipula

Shredder

Class gastropoda

Ancylus fluviatilis

Grazer

Bythynella

Grazer

Class hirudinea

Erpobdella octoculata

Collector

Acari

 

Parasite

Turbellaria

Polycelis nigra and P. tenuis

Predator

Class oligochaeta

F. Naididae

Collector

F. Tubificidae

Collector

Appendix 2

Taxa recorded in the study area during the experimental period.

Fungal species

Alatospora acuminata

Alatospora pulchella

Anguillospora furtiva

Anguillospora filiformis

Articulospora tetracladia

Clavariopsis aquatica

Clavatospora longibrachiata

Culicidospora aquatica

Flagellospora curvula

Heliscus lugdunensis

Lemonniera terrestris

Lunulospora curvula

Margaritispora aquatica/Goniopila monticola

Tetrachaetum elegans

Tricladium chaetocladium

Tricladium splendens

Triscelophorus acuminatus

Triscelophorus monosporus

Unidentified tetraradiate

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Domingos, C., Ferreira, V., Canhoto, C. et al. Warming, and the presence of a dominant shredder, drive variation in decomposer communities in a mountain stream. Aquat Sci 77, 129–140 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-014-0378-z

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