Research Starter Grant: Factors influencing consumer mediated leaf breakdown in forested headwater streams of tropical vs. temperate regions.

在许多溪流中，腐烂的树叶是能量和养分的重要来源。控制河流中树叶分解速率的因素在热带和温带地区可能有所不同。例如，最近的研究表明，细菌和真菌可能对热带溪流中的叶子分解更重要，而水生昆虫可能对温带溪流更重要。将在波多黎各和北卡罗莱纳的水源溪流中评估水生昆虫对树叶腐烂的影响。微生物群落（细菌和真菌）将在每个站点的腐烂叶片材料上进行表征，并在凋落物腐烂时测量其化学成分。这项研究是解决温带和热带地区之间河流生态系统过程根本差异的更大努力的一部分。该项目的更广泛影响将包括促进少数族裔科学家的研究生涯，加强首席研究员与两个长期研究地点的知名研究人员之间的合作，以及首席研究员对本科生和研究生的指导。

Decomposing leaves are an important source of energy and nutrients in many streams. Factors that control the rate of leaf decomposition in streams may vary between tropical and temperate regions. For example, recent studies suggest that bacteria and fungi may be more important to leaf breakdown in tropical streams, while aquatic insects may be more important in temperate streams. The impacts of aquatic insects on leaf decay will be assessed in headwater streams in Puerto Rico and in North Carolina. Microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) will be characterized on decaying leaf material from each site, and the chemical composition of litter will be measured as it decays. This study is part of a larger effort to address fundamental differences in stream ecosystem processes between temperate and tropical regions. Broader impacts of the project will include advancement of the research career of an underrepresented minority scientist, enhancement of collaborations between the Principal Investigator and established researchers at two long term research sites, and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students by the Principal Investigator.