The influence of aquatic macroinvertebrates in leaf decomposition in streams of forest and grassland in the Serra do Mar, Brazil

Abstract

Despite the great biological importance of the Atlantic Forest, this is finds seriously threatened by human action through, for example, the change in land use, being left about 8% of its original cover. This devastation includes degradation of its water systems which are linked to important processes such as energy transfer and nutrient cycling in the ecosystem. Much of the energy in aquatic systems is available in from external sources to them and the decomposition of this material is extremely important in providing energy and nutrients for them. Stages of the decomposition process results from the activity of macroinvertebrates, these organisms are essential in the conversion of coarse organic matter into fine organic matter. That said, this study aims to analyze the performance of macroinvertebrate shredders in leaf decomposition by experiments with litter bags filled with C 3 and C 4 plants in three streams of the Serra do Mar, State of São Paulo, one in grassland and two forest one of them with rocky bed and another in sandy bed. Furthermore, the isotope methodology will be used to demonstrate the consumption of invertebrates and some environmental indices are calculated. Through this comparing altered streams and not altered in the same basin, you can understand how changes in coverage and land use affect the basic operating procedures of these water bodies. (AU)