Abstract
AbstractThe quantity and quality of detrital input to alpine and forested mountain streams depends mainly upon the type of adjacent riparian vegetation: from alpine meadows to lower mountain forests. Benthic organic matter (BOM) and transported organic matter (TOM) content were quantified in six streams flowing in different vegetation zones of the Tatra Mountains. Annual BOM ranged from 0.1 g AFDM m−2 in the alpine meadow zone to 5.9 g AFDM m−2 in the lower mountain zone, and the coarse fraction of BOM was generally greatest. Similarly, average annual seston (particles <100 µm) concentrations increased from 0.1 to 0.4 mg AFDM l−1 in consecutive studied zones. VFPOM constituted 97% of total TOM. In the Tatra Mountains, stream BOM storage and the amount of TOM were negatively related to altitude and stream gradient and positively related to stream width and order. Very fine fractions of TOM in Tatra streams were negatively correlated with stream gradient. The performed analysis revealed some discrepancies concerning relation of BOM and TOM to stream gradient and order with that published for North American temperate zone streams from undisturbed forested catchments.
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