Effects of Sewage Pollution in the White River, Arkansas on Benthos and Leaf Detritus Decomposition

摘要

Recently there has been much emphasis placed on the importance of leaf detritus processing to the energetics of stream invertebrates. This study was designed primarily to assess the effects of municipal effluent on the ability of a stream community to utilize leaf detritus, and secondarily to evaluate the extent of pollution of the White River by the Fayetteville, Arkansas effluent discharge. Physical and chemical water quality, benthos, and fish were sampled periodically at one station upstream and two stations downstream from the discharge, and in the Richland Creek tributary. Processing of leaf detritus was studied at each site using 5 g packs of red oak (Quercus shumardi) leaves. Dissolved oxygen was far below recommended levels which resulted in a fish kill. Substantial increases in orthophosphate, ammonia, chlorides, conductivity, and turbidity were observed downstream. Despite this, leaf detritus processing rates were extremely rapid indicating that leaf decomposition is virtually unaffected by macroinvertebrates.