Detritus in the lake ecosystem

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Am. Nat.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/283252· OSTI ID:6646836

Rich, P H; Wetzel, R G

Present views of the roles of detritus are not consistent with the ecosystem concept, and result in an underestimation of the importance of carbon and energy pathways involving detritus. Nonpredatory losses from a plant-herbivore transfer, particularly as dissolved organic matter and egestion, may be greater than the amount of material and energy transmitted up the grazer food chain. Ecosystem efficiencies are significantly higher than Lindeman (food chain) efficiencies. Benthic anaerobic metabolism (CO/sub 2/ production) is greater than benthic oxygen uptake estimates indicate, and the energy-rich intermediate products which undergo deferred respiration (O/sub 2/ uptake) far from their origin may create redox gradients, drive chemosynthesis, and subsidize bacterial photosynthesis in the water column. Thus, aquatic detrital material, particulate and dissolved, and its metabolism create a dynamic structure in lake sediments and water somewhat analogous to the trophic-dynamic aspect of the biota. However, detrital-dynamic structure in lakes is not simply an alternative mode of support for biota, but is a major factor in the entrainment of abiotic substances which subsidizes the biota.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs
• OSTI ID: 6646836
• Journal Information: Am. Nat.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Nat.; (United States) Vol. 112:983; ISSN AMNTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BACTERIA
BENTHOS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DETRITUS
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
FLUIDS
FOOD CHAINS
LAKES
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PLANTS
REDOX REACTIONS
RESPIRATION
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
SYNTHESIS
WASTES