Long-term resource limitation reduces insect detritivore growth in a headwater stream. Johnson, B. J., Cross, W. F., & Wallace, J. B. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 2003.
Long-term resource limitation reduces insect detritivore growth in a headwater stream. [pdf]Paper  abstract   bibtex   
We measured larval growth rates of 2 dominant stream detritivore groups to assess the mechanism underlying declines in invertebrate production following exclusion of terrestrial litter inputs to a forested headwater stream. Larval Tallaperla spp. (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae) were chosen as representative shredders and non-Tanypodinae Chironomidae (Diptera) were selected as representative collector-gatherers. Larval growth rates were measured in the treatment stream and in 2 undisturbed reference streams using in situ growth chambers. Estimates of daily growth rates were derived from change in mean length of larvae over incubation periods. Initial larval length was a significant predictor of growth in each stream for both taxonomic groups (r2 = 0.43

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