Short-Term Effect of <i>Eucalyptus</i> Leachates on Green Food Webs in Headwaters
Despite the reported allelopathic nature of the <i>Eucalyptus</i> genus, eucalypt leachates have unknown effects on the trophic base of stream green food webs. Eucalypt plantations have increased worldwide, including riparian ecosystems. We aimed to test whether short-term eucalypt leach...
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/1/115 |
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| author | Lorena González-Paz Josué Gestido Cristina Delgado Nuria Pedrol Isabel Pardo |
| author_facet | Lorena González-Paz Josué Gestido Cristina Delgado Nuria Pedrol Isabel Pardo |
| author_sort | Lorena González-Paz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite the reported allelopathic nature of the <i>Eucalyptus</i> genus, eucalypt leachates have unknown effects on the trophic base of stream green food webs. Eucalypt plantations have increased worldwide, including riparian ecosystems. We aimed to test whether short-term eucalypt leachates might alter water chemistry, periphytic algal biomass and diatoms, and herbivorous invertebrates’ (i.e., scrapers). We studied two oligotrophic and well-preserved headwaters from NW Spain. The experiment followed a before-after control-impact paired (BACIp) design, with weekly sampling before and after eucalypt leaves addition to streams. In the stream with lower discharge, the eucalypt treatments seemed to affect increases in biomass accrual (Chl-<i>a</i>) and diatom assemblages, disfavouring sensitive species (e.g., <i>Eunotia minor</i> and <i>Achnanthidium pyrenaicum</i>). Therefore, the ecological status was reduced from high to good. In the stream with higher discharge, invertebrate assemblages changed with scrapers having their abundances modified in comparison with the control (e.g., <i>Habrophlebia</i> sp. and Elmidae). Results suggest that eucalypt leaves leachates exert toxic effects on periphyton and on diatom and invertebrate assemblages, and this effect might be mediated by discharge. Alterations at the base of stream food webs may compromise their good ecological status. Further studies are necessary to identify whether this toxicity is due to allelopathic processes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:38:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4f9a52eb5104f86940f199ef1737412 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:38:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4f9a52eb5104f86940f199ef17374122023-12-02T01:14:29ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-12-0115111510.3390/w15010115Short-Term Effect of <i>Eucalyptus</i> Leachates on Green Food Webs in HeadwatersLorena González-Paz0Josué Gestido1Cristina Delgado2Nuria Pedrol3Isabel Pardo4Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, SpainDepartment of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, SpainDepartment of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, SpainDepartment of Plant Biology and Soil Science, Faculty of Biology, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, SpainDepartment of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, SpainDespite the reported allelopathic nature of the <i>Eucalyptus</i> genus, eucalypt leachates have unknown effects on the trophic base of stream green food webs. Eucalypt plantations have increased worldwide, including riparian ecosystems. We aimed to test whether short-term eucalypt leachates might alter water chemistry, periphytic algal biomass and diatoms, and herbivorous invertebrates’ (i.e., scrapers). We studied two oligotrophic and well-preserved headwaters from NW Spain. The experiment followed a before-after control-impact paired (BACIp) design, with weekly sampling before and after eucalypt leaves addition to streams. In the stream with lower discharge, the eucalypt treatments seemed to affect increases in biomass accrual (Chl-<i>a</i>) and diatom assemblages, disfavouring sensitive species (e.g., <i>Eunotia minor</i> and <i>Achnanthidium pyrenaicum</i>). Therefore, the ecological status was reduced from high to good. In the stream with higher discharge, invertebrate assemblages changed with scrapers having their abundances modified in comparison with the control (e.g., <i>Habrophlebia</i> sp. and Elmidae). Results suggest that eucalypt leaves leachates exert toxic effects on periphyton and on diatom and invertebrate assemblages, and this effect might be mediated by discharge. Alterations at the base of stream food webs may compromise their good ecological status. Further studies are necessary to identify whether this toxicity is due to allelopathic processes.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/1/115streamsBACIpeucalyptinvertebrateschlorophyll-<i>a</i>diatoms |
| spellingShingle | Lorena González-Paz Josué Gestido Cristina Delgado Nuria Pedrol Isabel Pardo Short-Term Effect of <i>Eucalyptus</i> Leachates on Green Food Webs in Headwaters Water streams BACIp eucalypt invertebrates chlorophyll-<i>a</i> diatoms |
| title | Short-Term Effect of <i>Eucalyptus</i> Leachates on Green Food Webs in Headwaters |
| title_full | Short-Term Effect of <i>Eucalyptus</i> Leachates on Green Food Webs in Headwaters |
| title_fullStr | Short-Term Effect of <i>Eucalyptus</i> Leachates on Green Food Webs in Headwaters |
| title_full_unstemmed | Short-Term Effect of <i>Eucalyptus</i> Leachates on Green Food Webs in Headwaters |
| title_short | Short-Term Effect of <i>Eucalyptus</i> Leachates on Green Food Webs in Headwaters |
| title_sort | short term effect of i eucalyptus i leachates on green food webs in headwaters |
| topic | streams BACIp eucalypt invertebrates chlorophyll-<i>a</i> diatoms |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/1/115 |
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