Abstract
Dissolved nitrogen (DN) is essential for primary production in aquatic systems. We investigated total DN (TDN) and nitrate and nitrite (NO3 − + NO2 −) releases from particulate organic matter (POM) by incubating POM of various sizes and chemical characteristics in stream water over a 2-week period. Large- and medium-sized fine POM (L-FPOM, 250–500 μm, and M-FPOM, 100–250 μm) were prepared by feeding five types of coarse POM (CPOM) to shredding amphipods in laboratory aquaria. For CPOM, the TDN release rate was greatest during the first day of the experiment while L-FPOM continued to release TDN during the experimental period, and the TDN release rate from L-FPOM in the second week was higher than those from the other size fractions. In addition, TDN release on the first day from FPOM was significantly affected by FPOM chemical qualities, with a negative correlation to lignin content and lignocellulose index. The present study indicates the importance of source and chemical quality of POM in the instream TDN release and the significance of amphipod-produced FPOM as a nitrogen source in streams despite being recalcitrant to microbial decomposition.
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