Leaf litter break down and utilization by macroinvertebrates in an intertidal estuary

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23770025
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: SASAKI Akiko 広島大学, 生物圏科学研究科, 助教 (10535470)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 河口干潟 / 炭素循環 / 落葉分解 / 底生動物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I investigated leaf litter break down and utilization by macroinvertebrates in an intertidal estuary, located in the northwestern Seto Inland Sea, Japan. The air-dried reed litter was immediately broken down in the study site. Approximately 20% of the initial weight remained three month after the field experiment. We also investigated macroinvertebrate colonization in a litter bag with plural holes. Decapoda, Amphipoda, and Gastropoda species mainly colonized the litter bags during the year. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis suggested that the contribution to the macroinvertebrates of leaf litter as food sources was small. My results suggested that leaf litter could supply habitats to macroinvertebrates in an intertidal estuary, although their remaining time was relatively short.

Free Research Field

生態系生態学