Issue |
Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.
Volume 47, Number 4, 2011
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 339 - 346 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2011053 | |
Published online | 31 January 2012 |
Colonization by oligochaetes (Annelida: Clitellata) in decomposing leaves of Eichhornia azurea (SW.) Kunth (Pontederiaceae) in a neotropical lentic system
1 Graduate Program in Entomology, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA, CP 478 69011-970 Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
2 Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Programa de Pós Graduação em Comportamento e Biologia Animal, Juiz de Fora, Brazil
* Corresponding author: martinsrt@gmail.com
Received:
21
February 2011
Accepted:
6
July 2011
The objective of the present study was to examine the colonization of oligochaetes during the decomposition of leaves of the macrophyte Eichhornia azurea in a lentic system in southeastern Brazil. The experiment was conducted between September and November 2007, with the use of 21 nylon bags measuring 15×15 cm with 2 mm mesh, each containing 10 g of dried leaves. The bags were removed from the lake after 2, 5, 8, 12, 25, 45 and 65 days. At the end of the experiment, 31.40% of the initial mass remained, and the decomposition rate was 0.018 d−1. The mean density of oligochaetes during the experiment was 32.81±9.58 ind.g−1 DM. The sub-families Naidinae and Pristininae accounted for 99.83% of the oligochaetes. The substrate quality influenced the colonization of E. azurea leaves, as observed from the cluster analysis by the formation of two groups based on increased density during the experiment, indicating a degradative ecological succession. During the decomposition there were changes in the community of oligochaetes, resulting from differences in the ability to exploit various food sources, with predominance of predators in the first decomposition phase and of collectors at the end of the experiment.
Key words: Leaf breakdown / macrophyte / naidinae / pristininae / tubificinae
© EDP Sciences, 2012
Current usage metrics show cumulative count of Article Views (full-text article views including HTML views, PDF and ePub downloads, according to the available data) and Abstracts Views on Vision4Press platform.
Data correspond to usage on the plateform after 2015. The current usage metrics is available 48-96 hours after online publication and is updated daily on week days.
Initial download of the metrics may take a while.