New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts
Factors controlling litter input dynamics in streams draining pasture, pine,
and native forest catchments
M. R. SCARSBROOK
J. M. QUINN
J. HALLIDAY
R. MORSE
National Institute of Water & Atmospheric
Research Ltd
P. O. Box 11 115
Hamilton, New Zealand
email: m.scarsbrook@niwa.cri.nz
Abstract The effects of varying land use on the inputs of
litter to streams were investigated in nine small Waikato, New Zealand, hill
country streams between June 1995 and October 1997. Mass, timing, and
composition of both vertical and lateral litter inputs were measured. Litter
inputs to pasture streams were lower than those to streams in native or exotic
pine forest. Litter inputs to native forest streams peaked in summer, with leaf
material forming the dominant litter-type throughout the year. The pine forest
sites showed a winter minimum, with a pulse of reproductive litter (pollen
heads) in spring. One pasture site, where riparian vegetation included willow
and poplar showed an autumnal peak, with low inputs at other times of the year.
Climate variables (air temperature, rainfall, and windrun) varied in their
power of prediction of litter inputs. Mean air temperature showed a strong
positive relationship with monthly litter input at the most intensively sampled
native forest site. Annual litter inputs were positively related to canopy
cover, although canopy-type modified this relationship. At several sites
lateral inputs of litter showed a positive relationship with the slope of the
contributing area. Overall, lateral inputs were positively related to %
unvegetated groundcover. In open pastures the combination of a lack of riparian
trees, and the potential litter-trapping capacity of pasture grasses, severely
limits inputs of coarse particulate organic matter to streams.
Keywords litter dynamics; streams; organic matter; land use;
riparian vegetation
M00017
Received 13 April 2000; accepted 5 April 2001
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (890K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
This year's abstracts |
Journal home page |
All abstracts |
Publishing home page
