Skip to main content
Log in

The effects of low pH and palliative liming on beech litter decomposition in acid-sensitive streams

  • Primary Research Paper
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The decomposition of allochthonous leaf litter is retarded by stream acidification, but few studies have evaluated whether this effect can be offset by liming – the palliative addition of calcium carbonate either to streams or their catchments. We assessed the response of litter decomposition to pH and experimental liming in Welsh upland streams. Small-mesh (<335 μm) litter-bags containing common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) were submerged in main river sites along the River Wye, and in replicate acid, circumneutral and experimentally limed tributaries (all n = 3) for 20 days. Beech decomposition was inhibited in acid tributaries and main river sites compared to circumneutral tributaries. Despite having only moderately increased pH relative to acid streams, limed sites had increased decomposition rates that were indistinguishable from naturally circumneutral streams. Decomposition rates increased highly significantly with pH across all 12 sites studied, and values were near identical to those in more prolonged experiments elsewhere. There were no significant variations in shredder numbers with decomposition rate, and no evidence that sites with faster decomposition had smaller shredder proportions. Although based on short-term observations and leaves from just one tree species, these results are consistent with the well-known retardation at low pH of some aspect microbial decomposition (e.g. by hyphomycete fungi). They are among the first to suggest that stream liming to combat acidification might reverse such impacts of low pH. Further data are required on the microbiological causes and ecological consequences of altered detrital processing in acid-sensitive and limed streams.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abelho M. and Graça M. A. S. (2006). Effects of nutrient enrichment on decomposition and fungal colonisation of sweet chestnut leaves in an Iberian stream (Central Portugal). Hydrobiologia 560: 239–247

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ansell, S., 1989. An examination of decay rates and invertebrate colonisation of deciduous and coniferous litter in an acid and a circumneutral stream. M.Sc. Applied Hydrology thesis, Cardiff University

  • Bauhus J., Vor T., Bartsch N. and Cowling A. (2004). The effects of gaps and liming on forest floor decomposition and soil C and N dynamics in a Fagus sylvatica forest. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 34: 509–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradley D. C. and Ormerod S. J. (2002a). Long-term effects of catchment liming on invertebrates in upland streams. Freshwater Biology 47: 161–171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradley D. C. and Ormerod S. J. (2002b). Evaluating the precision of kick-sampling in upland streams: the effects of sampling effort, habitat and rarity. Archiv fűr Hydrobiologie 155: 199–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns D. A. (1996). The effects of liming an Adirondack lake watershed on downstream water chemistry – effects of liming on stream chemistry. Biogeochemistry 32: 339–362

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chale F. M. M. (1993). Degradation of mangrove leaf litter under aerobic conditions. Hydrobiologia 257: 177–183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chamier A. C. (1987). Effect of pH on microbial degradation of leaf litter in seven streams of the English Lake District. Oecologia 71: 491–500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chamier A. C. and Tipping E. (1997). Effects of aluminium in acid streams on growth and sporulation of aquatic hyphomycetes. Environmental Pollution 96: 289–298

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chauvet E. and Suberkropp K. (1998). Temperature and sporulation of aquatic hyphomycetes. Applied Environmental Microbiology 64: 1522–1525

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dangles O. and Chauvet E. (2003). Effects of stream acidification on fungal biomass in decaying beech leaves and leaf palatability. Water Research 37: 533–538

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dangles O., Gessner M. O., Guerold F. and Chauvet E. (2004a). Impacts of stream acidification on litter breakdown: implications for assessing ecosystem functioning. Journal of Applied Ecology 41: 365–378

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dangles O., Malmqvist B. and Laudon H. (2004b). Naturally acid freshwater ecosystems are diverse and functional: evidence from boreal streams. Oikos 104: 149–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobson M., Hildrew A. G., Orton S. and Ormerod S. J. (1995). Increasing litter retention in moorland streams: ecological and management aspects of a field experiment. Freshwater Biology 33: 325–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fabre E. (1998). Aquatic hyphomycetes in three rivers of south western France. II. Spatial and temporal differences between species. Canadian Journal of Botany 76: 107–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • France R., Culbert H., Freeborough C. and Peters R. (1997). Leaching and early mass loss of boreal leaves and wood in oligotrophic water. Hydrobiologia 345: 209–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graça M. A. S. (2001). The role of invertebrates on leaf litter decomposition in streams – a review. International Review of Hydrobiology 86: 383–393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graça M. A. S., Cressa C., Gessner M. O., Feio M. J., Callies K. A. and Barrios C. (2001). Food quality, feeding preferences, survival and growth of shredders from temperate and tropical streams. Freshwater Biology 46: 947–957

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hieber M. and Gessner M. O. (2002). Contribution of stream detritivores, fungi and bacteria to leaf breakdown based on biomass estimates. Ecology 83: 1026–1038

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kowalik R. A. and Ormerod S. J. (2006). Intensive sampling and transplantation experiments reveal continued effects of episodic acidification on sensitive stream invertebrates. Freshwater Biology 51: 180–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laitung B., Pretty J. L., Chauvet E. and Dobson M. (2002). Response of aquatic hyphomycete communities to enhanced stream retention in areas impacted by commercial forestry. Freshwater Biology 47: 313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lepori F., Barbieri A. and Ormerod S. J. (2003a). Causes of episodic acidification in Alpine streams. Freshwater Biology 48: 175–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lepori F., Barbieri A. and Ormerod S. J. (2003b). Effects of episodic acidification on macroinvertebrate assemblages in Swiss Alpine streams. Freshwater Biology 48: 1873–1885

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lepori F., Palm D. and Malmqvist B. (2005). Effects of stream restoration on ecosystem functioning: detritus retentiveness and decomposition. Journal of Applied Ecology 42: 228–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, B. R., I. Jűttner, B. Reynolds & S. J. Ormerod, in press. Comparative assessment of stream acidity using diatoms and macroinvertebrates: implications for river management and conservation. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

  • Moog, O. (ed.), 1995. Fauna Aquatica Austriaca – a comprehensive species inventory of Austrian aquatic organisms with ecological data, first edition, Wasserwirtschaftskataster, Bundesministerium fűr Land-und Forstwirtschaft, Wein

  • Mulholland P. J., Driscoll C. T., Elwood J. W., Osgood M. P., Palumbo A. V., Rosemond A. D., Smith M. E. S. and Schofield C. (1992). Relationships between stream acidity and bacteria, macroinvertebrates, and fish: a comparison of north temperate and south temperate mountain streams, USA. Hydrobiologia 239: 7–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ormerod S. J. and Edwards R. W. (1987). The ordination and classification of macroinvertebrate assemblages in the catchment of the River Wye in relation to environmental factors. Freshwater Biology 17: 533–546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petersen I., Masters Z., Hildrew A. G. and Ormerod S. J. (2004). Dispersal of adult aquatic insects in catchments of differing land use. Journal of Applied Ecology 41: 934–950

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds B., Smith R. I., Norris D. A., Fowler D., Bell S. A., Stevens P. A. and Ormerod S. J. (1999). Acid deposition in Wales: The results of the 1995 Welsh acid waters survey. Environmental Pollution 105: 251–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rover T. V. and Minshall G. W. (2003). Controls on leaf processing in streams from spatial-scaling and hierarchical perspectives. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 22: 352–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Rundle S. D., Weatherley N. S. and Ormerod S. J. (1995). The effects of catchment liming on the chemistry and biology of upland welsh streams: testing predictions from empirical models. Freshwater Biology 34: 165–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schindler D. W. (1997). Liming to restore acidified lakes and streams: a typical approach to restoring damaged ecosystems?. Restoration Ecology 5: 1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suberkropp K. (1997). Annual production of leaf-decaying fungi in a woodland stream. Freshwater Biology 38: 167–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suberkropp K. and Chauvet E. (1995). Importance of stream microfungi in controlling breakdown rates of leaf litter. Ecology 75: 1807–1817

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong M. K. M., Goh T. K., Hodgkins J., Hyde K. D., Ranghoo V. M., Tsui C. K. M., Ho W. H., Wong W. S. W. and Yuen T.K. (1998). Role of fungi in freshwater ecosystems. Biodiversity and Conservation 7: 1187–1206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeates L. V. and Barmuta L. A. (1999). Effect of willow and eucalypt leaves on feeding preference and growth of some Australian aquatic macroinvertebrates. Austral Ecology 24: 593–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Faye L. Merrix.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Merrix, F.L., Lewis, B.R. & Ormerod, S.J. The effects of low pH and palliative liming on beech litter decomposition in acid-sensitive streams. Hydrobiologia 571, 373–381 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0269-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0269-y

Keywords

Navigation