Affiliation:
1. Department of Hydrobiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland.
2. Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany.
Abstract
We examined the effects of woody debris decay state on the densities, taxonomic and functional composition, and diversity of macroinvertebrates in littoral zones of undeveloped lakes. Our study revealed that the interacting effects of increasing roughness and softness of the wood, as well as changes in the quality of food resources with progressing decomposition of woody debris, exerted the strongest impacts on macroinvertebrate communities. Structurally complex, decomposed wood supported higher densities and species richness of macroinvertebrates than undecayed wood. We also found several taxa that were typical for decayed wood, including macroinvertebrates considered as xylophages. Decaying wood underpinned greater functional richness than undecayed wood, with high densities of collector–gatherers and shredders that could benefit from organic matter originating from decomposing wooden tissue, as well as predators attracted by numerous potential prey inhabiting this complex habitat. As decaying wood enhanced abundant and diverse macroinvertebrate communities, which in turn could subsidize upper trophic levels, it provides a valuable habitat in littoral zones, particularly in lakes with already sparse macrophyte cover.
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
Subject
Aquatic Science,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Cited by
5 articles.
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