Dissertation Research: Microbial Activity on Wood in Streams: Exploring Abiotic and Biotic Factors Affecting the Structure and Function of Wood Biofilms

韦伯斯特坦克 木质残体是大多数河流生态系统的组成部分。在许多溪流和河流中，水生无脊椎动物的最高密度和生产率与木材有关。对于许多水生无脊椎动物来说，它们的食物基础是木质残体表面的微生物生物膜。影响生物膜结构和功能的因素，包括生物和非生物的，很少得到考虑。该项目使用微生物生长和活动的测量实验测试的作用，如光照水平，埋葬，落叶丰富，木材类型的生物膜在流生态系统中的因素。 这项研究很重要，因为它测试了与木质残体相关的高生产率的一些可能原因和机制。人类管理活动和自然干扰影响到诸如到达溪流的光量、植被的种类和数量以及沉积物输入的速率等变量。这些影响如何通过溪流生态系统产生共鸣将集中在木质残体上，因为这个栖息地是一个生物活动频繁的地区。这项研究密切关注这一联系以及影响微生物生长速率和这一关键界面活性速率的可能因素。

WEBSTER & TANK Woody debris is an integral part of most stream ecosystems. In many streams and rivers, the highest densities and rates of production for aquatic invertebrates are associated with wood. For many aquatic invertebrates, their food base is the microbial biofilm on the surfaces of woody debris. The factors which affect the structure and function, both biological and non-biological, of these biofilms has received little consideration. This project uses measurements of microbial growth and activity to experimentally test the roles of factors such as light levels, burial, leaf litter abundance, and wood type on biofilms in stream ecosystems. This research is important because it tests some of the possible causes and mechanisms for the high rates of production associated with woody debris. Human management activities and natural disturbances affect such variables as the amount of light reaching a stream, the types and amount of vegetation, and the rates of sediment input. How these impacts might resonate through the stream ecosystem will be focused on woody debris since this habitat is a region of high biological activity. This research looks closely at this link and possible factors influencing microbial growth rates and rates of activity at this crucial interface.