Life Sciences Commons^™

An Invasive Riparian Tree Reduces Stream Ecosystem Efficiency Via A Recalcitrant Organic Matter Subsidy, Madeline M. Mineau, Colden V. Baxter, Amy Marcarelli, G. Wayne Minshall

Amy Marcarelli

A disturbance, such as species invasion, can alter the exchange of materials and organisms between ecosystems, with potential consequences for the function of both ecosystems. Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is an exotic tree invading riparian corridors in the western United States, and may alter stream organic matter budgets by increasing allochthonous litter and by reducing light via shading, in turn decreasing in-stream primary production. We used a before-after invasion comparison spanning 35 years to show that Russian olive invasion increased allochthonous litter nearly 25-fold to an invaded vs. a control reach of a stream, and we found that this litter …