Abstract
An experiment was conducted in the Delta Marsh in south-central Manitoba to assess the effects of initial litter quality, duration of litter submergence, and season of submergence on invertebrate abundance and biomass. Samples of two types of hybrid cattail (Typha glauca) litter were added to the marsh throughout the spring and summer and subsequently collected at monthly intervals. Green cattail litter gathered during the preflowering stage contained higher levels of N and P than senesced litter collected from the same stand later in the year. Although the green litter contained higher nutrient levels throughout the season, there was no preference by invertebrates between the two litter types provided. There was a tendency for higher invertebrate densities, especially collectorfilterers, to be associated with litter that had been submersed longer. Examination of seasonal patterns of invertebrate functional group abundance showed scrapers with early spring peaks in abundance and biomass. Shredder populations were at peak levels slightly later in the season than scrapers. As the season progressed, shredder and scraper populations declined to relatively low levels. Collector-filterers and predators dominated the invertebrate fauna during August and September.
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Paper 56 of the Marsh Ecology Research Program, Delta Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Station-Ducks Unlimited Canada
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Nelson, J.W., Kadlec, J.A. & Murkin, H.R. Responses by macroinvertebrates to cattail litter quality and timing of litter submergence in a Northern Prairie Marsh. Wetlands 10, 47–60 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160822
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160822