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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Modeling the Size Spectrum for Macroinvertebrates and Fishes in Stream Ecosystems

Modeling the Size Spectrum for Macroinvertebrates and Fishes in Stream Ecosystems

Published on: July 30, 2019

Riparian Forests and Macroinvertebrates Support Multiple Ecosystem Processes Across Temperate and Tropical Streams.

Rebecca Oester^1,2,3, Paula M de Omena⁴, Larissa Corteletti da Costa⁴

¹Institute of Microbiology, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Via Flora Ruchat Roncati 15, CH-6850 Mendrisio, Switzerland.

Ecosystems (New York, N.Y.)

|November 13, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Riparian forests and macroinvertebrates enhance ecosystem multifunctionality in headwater streams by supporting multiple ecological processes. These drivers are crucial for maintaining freshwater detrital food webs across regions.

Keywords:

Aquatic-terrestrial linkages Biodiversity Cross-ecosystem flows Detrital food web Leaf litter decomposition Multifunctionality Nutrient cycling

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Continuous Instream Monitoring of Nutrients and Sediment in Agricultural Watersheds

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Published on: September 26, 2017

Area of Science:

Ecology
Environmental Science
Freshwater Biology

Background:

Ecosystem processes often extend beyond physical boundaries, linking aquatic and terrestrial environments.
The role of biological drivers in supporting multiple aquatic-terrestrial ecosystem processes is not well understood.
Headwater streams are critical interfaces for cross-ecosystem interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the influence of riparian forests, macroinvertebrates, and leaf litter composition on ecosystem multifunctionality.
To assess the relative importance of these factors on aquatic fungi biomass, nitrogen loss, and decomposition rates.
To understand cross-regional effects in temperate and tropical headwater streams.

Main Methods:

Utilized leaf litter bags to introduce terrestrial leaf litter into forested and non-forested headwater streams.
Manipulated macroinvertebrate access and leaf litter mixture composition.
Measured aquatic fungi biomass accrual, nitrogen loss, and local leaf litter decomposition rates.

Main Results:

Ecosystem multifunctionality was positively associated with the presence of macroinvertebrates and riparian forests across both regions.
Leaf litter nitrogen loss and decomposition rates increased significantly when macroinvertebrates had access to all leaf litter types.
Decomposition rates were positively correlated with other measured ecosystem processes.

Conclusions:

Riparian forests and macroinvertebrate detritivores play a consistent, cross-regional role in supporting freshwater detrital food web processes.
Macroinvertebrates are key drivers of ecosystem multifunctionality in headwater streams.
A holistic view incorporating cross-ecosystem interactions is essential for understanding headwater stream ecology.