Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://dspace.utpl.edu.ec/handle/123456789/18830
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dc.contributor.authorCueva Agila, A.es_ES
dc.contributor.authorIñiguez Armijos, C.es_ES
dc.contributor.authorEspinosa íñiguez, C.es_ES
dc.contributor.authorSanchez Rodriguez, A.es_ES
dc.date.accessioned2017-06-16T22:02:27Z-
dc.date.available2017-06-16T22:02:27Z-
dc.date.issued2016-07-01es_ES
dc.identifier10.1002/ece3.2257es_ES
dc.identifier.isbn20457758es_ES
dc.identifier.other10.1002/ece3.2257es_ES
dc.identifier.urihttp://dspace.utpl.edu.ec/handle/123456789/18830-
dc.description.abstractTropical montane ecosystems of the Andes are critically threatened by a rapid land-use change which can potentially affect stream variables, aquatic communities and ecosystem processes such as leaf litter breakdown. However, these effects have not been sufficiently investigated in the Andean region and at high altitude locations in general. Here, we studied the influence of land-use (forest-pasture-urban) on stream physico-chemical variables (e.g. water temperature, nutrient concentration and pH), aquatic communities (macroinvertebrates and aquatic fungi) and leaf litter breakdown rates in Andean streams (southern Ecuador), and how variation in those stream physico-chemical variables affect macroinvertebrates and fungi related to leaf litter breakdown. We found that pH, water temperature and nutrient concentration increased along the land-use gradient. Macroinvertebrate communities were significantly different between land-uses. Shredder richness and abundance were lower in pasture than forest sites and totally absent in urban sites, and fungal richness and biomass were higher in forest sites than in pasture and urban sites. Leaf litter breakdown rates became slower as riparian land-use changed from natural to anthropogenically disturbed conditions, and were largely determined by pH, water temperature, phosphate concentration, fungal activity, and single species of leaf-shredding invertebrates. Our findings provide evidence that leaf litter breakdown in Andean streams is sensitive to riparian land-use change, with urban streams being the most affected. In addition, this study highlights the role of fungal biomass and shredder species (Phylloicus; Trichoptera and Anchytarsus; Coleoptera) on leaf litter breakdown in Andean streams and the contribution of aquatic fungi in supporting this ecosystem process when shredders are absent or present low abundance in streams affected by urbanization. Finally, we summarize important implications in terms of managing of native vegetation and riparian buffers to promote ecological integrity and functioning of tropical Andean stream ecosystems.es_ES
dc.languageIngléses_ES
dc.subjectAndean streamses_ES
dc.subjectland-use changees_ES
dc.subjectpHes_ES
dc.subjectwater temperaturees_ES
dc.subjectnutrient enrichmentes_ES
dc.subjectaquatic decomposer communitieses_ES
dc.subjectleaf litter breakdownes_ES
dc.titleShifts in leaf litter breakdown along a forest�pasture�urban gradient in Andean streamses_ES
dc.typeArticlees_ES
dc.publisherEcology and Evolutiones_ES
Appears in Collections:Artículos de revistas Científicas

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