Limited evidence that mixing leaf litter accelerates decomposition or increases diversity of decomposers in streams of eastern Canada

Abstract

Most studies of terrestrial litter decomposition in streams and rivers have used leaves from a single tree species, but leaf packs in streams in eastern North America are usually mixtures of two or more species. Litter mixtures may decay more quickly than either of the component species. If so, estimates of stream energy and nutrient budgets may be inaccurate. In northern Nova Scotia, Canada, we measured mass loss from binary mixtures (1:1 mass ratio) of leaf litter in mesh bags, using freshly fallen or air-dried litter from five species of canopy trees. We repeated the experiment eight times, in summer and fall, in two streams and a small river, over 3 years. In some trials we enumerated benthic invertebrate and fungal colonization of decaying litter. Although there were marked differences in mass loss rates among litter types, decomposition was accelerated in mixtures relative to the mean of the component species in only three of eight trials, and only in mixtures containing N-rich speckled alder leaves. Mixing yellow birch and red maple leaves inhibited decomposition. Diversity (Shannon–Weaver Index), species richness, and abundance of aquatic hyphomycete fungi, as indexed by conidial production, were never greater (and sometimes less) on litter mixtures than on the component species. Total numbers, taxonomic richness and diversity of benthic invertebrates generally, and litter-feeding species in particular, were not augmented by mixing litter types. Litter mixtures appear to dilute a preferred substrate with patches of a less preferred substrate. Our results provide only weak support for the contention that combining two litter types leads to acceleration of decomposition rates.