The Trophic Significance of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Streams

Abstract

Accumulations of particulate organic matter (e.g., decomposing leaves, debris dams) are a conspicuous feature of stream ecosystems at Coweeta and in other forested areas. Stream ecologists have devoted considerable research effort toward examining the role of this particulate detritus in stream food webs (e.g. Cummins 1974). In this paper we draw attention to a less visible, but equally important component of stream food webs, namely dissolved organic carbon (DOC)-its sources and the organisms that utilize it as a food resource.