Spatial and temporal variations of detritus breakdown rates in the River Flumendosa basin (Sardinia, Italy)

Here we analyse in a 5th order Mediterranean river (River Flumendosa, Sardinia, Italy) spatial and temporal variations of plant detritus processing, a key functional aspect of river ecosystems. Decay rates of dead leaves (Phragmites australis) were studied during the fall-winter and spring-summer seasons at 17 sites distributed among 5 stream orders. Litter decay rates varied more, and were higher in spring-summer than in fall-winter. On the spatial scale, patterns of decay rate variation among sites and orders did not vary between seasons; seasonal variation was low in reaches with slow rates and high in reaches with fast rates. Data analysis showed a spatial pattern of increasing reed detritus decay rates with increasing stream order.