Naslov
Calcite deposition in karst waters is promoted by leaf litter breakdown and vice versa

Autori
Miliša, Marko ; Belančić, Anita ; Matoničkin Kepčija, Renata ; Sertić-Perić, Mirela ; Ostojić, Ana ; Habdija, Ivan

Izvornik
Annales de limnologie (0003-4088) 46 (2010), 4; 225-232

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
tufa; travertine; beech; butterbur; Croatia

Sažetak
The aim of this paper was to answer three questions regarding the breakdown of leaf litter in calcite depositing environment: (i) does leaf decomposition hinder calcite deposition and vice versa?, (ii) what role do other environmental factors play?, and (iii) how long does leaf litter persist in these habitats? Leaves of beech (Fagus sylvatica) and butterbur (Petasites hybridus) were exposed for 8 weeks at 8 microhabitats: 2 calcite deposition rates × 2 flow velocities × 2 seasons. A linear model was suitable for predicting leaf litter persistence but only for the period after the extreme loss of leaf mass occurring during the first week (11.6% of beech and 54.2% of butterbur regardless of the studied environmental factors). Mean persistence time of leaf litter was 62 days for butterbur and 442 days for beech. Higher flow velocity and calcite deposition rates stimulated the breakdown of both leaf species. At higher temperature breakdown was accelerated for butterbur leaves only. Since breakdown rates of both litter types were faster at high calcite depositing sites, it can be concluded that the breakdown process is not hindered by calcite deposition in general. The amount of deposited calcite per gram of leaf litter increased linearly over time on both leaf species. More calcite was deposited on the fast-decomposing butterbur leaves than on beech leaves.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

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