| Abstract Detail
Ecology Wood, James [1], Freeman, Mary [2]. Water Velocity Regulates Herbivory Pressure On A Widespread Riverine Macrophyte. Podostemum ceratophyllum has been described as the ″Poster Child″ of river impairment in Piedmont rivers due to the widespread decline of the plant, however surprisingly little is known about the plant’s ecology and what loss of the plant means to riverine ecosystems. We conducted a reciprocal transplant experiment in the Middle Oconee River, GA, to investigate herbivory on Podostemum and how herbivory may be regulated by water velocity. We then further investigated the effect of herbivory by excluding macroconsumers for 77 days using electrified exclosures. Our results indicated top-down regulation of plant biomass and water velocity-mediated herbivory pressure. Our estimates of yearly flux of Podostemum into the food web were similar to estimates for algal consumption, suggesting that this macrophyte can be an important basal resource. Developing a better understanding of how Podostemum is influenced by water velocity can inform river management strategies in regard to this important macrophyte.
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1 - University of Georgia, Odum School of Ecology, 140 E. Green Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
2 - USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Keywords:
Podostemum
Herbivory
stream
river
water velocity.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 6, Ecology Section: Population Biology
Location: 201/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 11:00 AM
Number: 6010
Abstract ID:846
Candidate for Awards:None |
