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营养物质的重要来源。控制溪流中树叶分解速率的因素在热带和温带地区可能各不相同。例如，最近的研究表明，在热带溪流中，细菌和真菌可能对树叶的分解更重要，而水生昆虫在温带溪流中可能更重要。水生昆虫对树叶腐烂的影响将在波多黎各和北卡罗来纳州的源头溪流中进行评估。 微生物群落（细菌和真菌）将在每个地点的腐烂树叶材料上进行表征，并在凋落物腐烂时测量其化学成分。这项研究是一个更大的努力，以解决温带和热带地区之间的河流生态系统过程的根本差异的一部分。该项目的更广泛的影响将包括代表性不足的少数民族科学家的研究事业的进步，加强主要研究者和两个长期研究地点的既定研究人员之间的合作，以及主要研究者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.