Patterns of macroinvertebrate production and energy flow in headwater streams of the Brazilian Savanna

Authors

José L. S. Mello, University of São PauloFollow
Daniel P. Abrahão, University of São PauloFollow
Wesley A. Saltarelli, University of São PauloFollow
Matt R. Whiles, University of FloridaFollow
Walter K. Dodds, Kansas State UniversityFollow
Jose Checo Colón-Gaud, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow
Vinicius Neres-Lima, Rio de Janeiro State UniversityFollow
Davi G.F. Cunha, University of São PauloFollow
Juliano J. Corbi, University of São PauloFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-20-2020

Publication Title

Freshwater Science

DOI

10.1086/711756

ISSN

2161-9565

Abstract

Secondary production estimates are an important element of ecosystem ecology because they facilitate quantification of the roles of consumers in material and energy cycling. We estimated production and resource consumption of stream macroinvertebrates, along with stream metabolism and organic matter storage in 3 relatively undisturbed Savanna headwater streams in southeastern Brazil. We measured production of benthic macroinvertebrates and reach-scale metabolism from October 2015 to September 2016. Mean annual values of gross primary production and ecosystem respiration varied from 0.06 to 0.22 and 3.96 to 23.76 g O2 m−2 d−1, respectively, reflecting net heterotrophic conditions. Total secondary production ranged from 11.0 to 13.5 g ash-free dry mass m−2 y−1. Gatherers, shredders, and predators were the most important contributors to production, ranging from 11 to 30%, 21 to 39%, and 20 to 49% of total production, respectively, and detrital pathways accounted for most energy flow. Shredders only ingested 3.4 to 8.1% of total available food resources, suggesting that food resource availability does not limit production in these streams. To our knowledge, this study provides the first quantification of energy flow patterns in Brazilian Savanna streams using secondary production estimates and is one of the few measuring growth rates and secondary production of macroinvertebrates with short generation times under field conditions in tropical streams. Furthermore, this study is one of the few to link stream metabolism and organic matter storage to secondary production. Our results will help to understand reference conditions in the poorly studied streams of a region particularly threatened by human activities and potentially elsewhere in tropical systems.

Comments

© 2020 by The Society for Freshwater Science.

Recommended Citation

Mello, José L. S., Daniel P. Abrahão, Wesley A. Saltarelli, Matt R. Whiles, Walter K. Dodds, Jose Checo Colón-Gaud, Vinicius Neres-Lima, Davi G.F. Cunha, Juliano J. Corbi. 2020. "Patterns of macroinvertebrate production and energy flow in headwater streams of the Brazilian Savanna." Freshwater Science, 39 (4): 848-859: The University of Chicago Press. doi: 10.1086/711756 source: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/711756?af=R
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/biology-facpubs/255