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Origin and Fate of Organic Matter in Australian Upland Streams

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Limnology in Australia

Part of the book series: Monographiae Biologicae ((MOBI,volume 61))

Abstract

The origin and fate of organic matter in streams has been widely studied in northern America and western Europe but has received little attention in Australia. This is unfortunate because, in this respect, the stream systems of this country have several features that are likely to distinguish them from their overseas counterparts. There are major differences in the timing and nature of allochthonous inputs to Australian upland streams, and even some doubt that these streams are dependent on heterotrophic sources of organic matter. The influence these features are likely to have on the structure and functional organization of Australian stream communities is discussed.

The few studies on the fate of organic matter in Australian upland streams are compared with those from other systems. Despite comparable processing rates of leaves of native species, the widely used exponential model of decomposition does not adequately describe the pattern of breakdown of Eucalyptus leaves in streams. The refractile nature of leaves of these species appears to be responsible for this difference. The consequences of a summer input of relatively poor-quality detritus and the importance of retentive structures, such as organic debris dams, are also examined.

The fate of dissolved and fine particulate organic matter, and the extent to which these are spiralled along river continua, have not been studied in Australia. In addition, the relative importance of allochthonous and autochthonous sources of energy to the stream community is yet to be resolved. Studies such as these are necessary to develop a sound understanding of the functioning of lotic systems within Australia.

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  1. Department of Zoology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, W.A., 6009, Australia

    S. E. Bunn

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  1. Department of Geography, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., 3168, Australia

    Patrick De Deckker

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Adelaide, Box 498, G.P.O., Adelaide, S.A., 5001, Australia

    W. D. Williams

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© 1986 CSIRO — Australia

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Bunn, S.E. (1986). Origin and Fate of Organic Matter in Australian Upland Streams. In: De Deckker, P., Williams, W.D. (eds) Limnology in Australia. Monographiae Biologicae, vol 61. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4820-4_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4820-4_17

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