RT Journal Article
T1 Short-term effect of eucalyptus leachates on green food webs in headwaters
A1 González Paz, Lorena
A1 Gestido, Josué
A1 Delgado Nuñez, Cristina
A1 Pedrol Bonjoch, María Nuria
A1 Pardo Gamundi, Isabel Maria
K1 2417 Biología Vegetal (Botánica)
K1 2417.19 Fisiología Vegetal
K1 2417.13 Ecología Vegetal
AB Despite the reported allelopathic nature of the Eucalyptus genus, eucalypt leachates have unknown effects on the trophic base of stream green food webs. Eucalypt plantations have increased worldwide, including riparian ecosystems. We aimed to test whether short-term eucalypt leachates might alter water chemistry, periphytic algal biomass and diatoms, and herbivorous invertebrates’ (i.e., scrapers). We studied two oligotrophic and well-preserved headwaters from NW Spain. The experiment followed a before-after control-impact paired (BACIp) design, with weekly sampling before and after eucalypt leaves addition to streams. In the stream with lower discharge, the eucalypt treatments seemed to affect increases in biomass accrual (Chl-a) and diatom assemblages, disfavouring sensitive species (e.g., Eunotia minor and Achnanthidium pyrenaicum). Therefore, the ecological status was reduced from high to good. In the stream with higher discharge, invertebrate assemblages changed with scrapers having their abundances modified in comparison with the control (e.g., Habrophlebia sp. and Elmidae). Results suggest that eucalypt leaves leachates exert toxic effects on periphyton and on diatom and invertebrate assemblages, and this effect might be mediated by discharge. Alterations at the base of stream food webs may compromise their good ecological status. Further studies are necessary to identify whether this toxicity is due to allelopathic processes.
PB Water
SN 20734441
YR 2022
FD 2022-12-29
LK http://hdl.handle.net/11093/4341
UL http://hdl.handle.net/11093/4341
LA eng
NO Water, 15(1): 115 (2023)
DS Investigo
RD 09-oct-2024