Leaf-litter decomposition experiments in midland streams. Kata Kovács

Átírás

1 Leaf-litter decomposition experiments in midland streams Ph.D. Theses Kata Kovács Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Judit Padisák University of Pannonia, Faculty of Engineering, Institute of Environmental Science, Department of Limnology University of Pannonia Doctoral School of Chemical and Environmental Science Veszprém 2012

2 1 INTRODUCTION The allochton coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM), like leaf litter, represents the primary source of energy in woodland streams (Webster & Benfield 1986; Minshall 1996; Giller 1998; Fisher & Likens 1973; Vannote et al. 1980; Wallace et al. 1997). Leaf litter decomposition in streams consists of four stages: (1) leaching, (2) microbial colonization, (3) shredding by invertebrates and (4) physical abrasion (Abelho 2001; Gessner et al. 2003). Macro-invertebrates convert CPOM into fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) which will serve as nutrient for other members of the food chain (Cummins et al. 1989; Cuffney et al. 1990). The composition of trees along river courses influences the quality and quantity of allochton CPOM input, which will impact the community structure and ecosystem functioning (Golladay et al. 1987; Smock et al. 1989; Bilby & Ward 1991), and, consequently, water quality. The rate of leaf litter decomposition depends on the landuse of surrounding areas since it largely determines the macro-invertebrate habitat structure, organic matter processing (Hax & Golladay 1998; Kedzierski & Smock 2001) and bed morphology. Recently, macro-invertebrate functional group analysis (Bunn 1995) (e.g. shredder, active and passive filter-feeder, predator, parasite) replaced classical macro-invertebrate taxonomy, especially as part of ecological status assessment. The use of functional indicators is an important step, since it enables us to directly assess ecosystem conditions and vulnerability (Gessner & Chauvet 2002; Brooks et al. 2002). 1

3 2 AIMS OF THE STUDIES 1. Macro-invertebrate activity and the rate of leaf litter decomposition was analysed to answer the following questions: a. Does the rate of leaf litter decomposition differ in natural and in hydromorphologically modified stream beds? b. What is the correlation between macro-invertebrate density and leaf litter decomposition rate? 2. The analysis of leaf litter decay of three tree species raised the following questions: a. Which species resists most to physical abrasion and macro-invertebrate shredding? b. In what extent does the decomposition rate of the three species differ in natural and modified parts of the streams? 3. While examining the impact of leaf litter decomposition and temperature, the macroinvertebrate shedding and microbial processes were separated. This experiment was meant to answer the following questions: a. What is the difference between summer and winter leaf litter demposition rates? b. How are the leaf litter decomposition rate, the quantity of shredders, temperature and the leaf litter type preference of shredders related? c. What is the extent of microbial leaf litter decay to macro-invertebrate shredding? 4. Having developed and used a new leaf litter decay assessment tool (leaf litter cylinder) the following questions arose: a. Under natural disturbances (e.g. flooding), which assessment tool (leaf litter bag, box, cylinder) is better to assess leaf litter decomposition? b. Does leaf litter decomposition rate depend on the tool used? 5. Examining the initial dissolution of leaf litter was intended to answer the following questions: a. What is the extent of initial shredding? b. When do the macrozoobentos species start to settle? 2

4 3 MATERIALS AND METHODS Five main experiment series were conducted at ten sampling sites of five small streams (Cuha-patak, Torna, Csigere-patak, Vázsonyi-séd and Veszprémi-séd). Fresh Quercus robur, Populus tremula, Salix alba leaf litter was collected in autumn 2007, 2008 and After selection and drying leaf litter was stored. Before usage, the leaf litter was dried at 70 C until dry mass consancy (in NÜVE FN500 drying cupboard). In each experiment, 15 x 15 cm leaf litter bags were used, filled with g leaf litter. In one of the experiments, next to leaf litter bags, leaf litter box (15x7 cm box, covered with 3x3 mm mesh size net) and leaf litter cylinder (10 cm diameter, 15 cm long cylinder, both ends covered with 3x3 mm mesh size net) were also used to determine decomposition rates. Leaf litter bags were applied on metal nets, and the nets were fixed on the stream bed. Three samples were taken at one time. The bags were sprinkled with stream water before placing them in the water, to avoid breakage due to sudden contact with flowing water. When taking samples, the bags were carefully removed from the net, quickly lifted and placed into containers and transported to the lab, where the macro-invertebrates settled on the leaf litter were removed, the rest of the litter was cleaned and dried until dry mass consancy. The average shredder abundance and leaf litter weight was calculated in parallel samples. After taxonomic identification, macro-invertebrates were sorted into two groups based on their nutrition strategy: shredders and non-shredders (AQEM Consortium, 2002). The decomposition rate was determined with the following exponential formula (Graca et al. 2007; Steward & Davies 1989): M t = M. 0 e -kt where M t is dry leaf litter mass at time (day), M 0 is mass at time 0 (M 0 = 10 g), k is the exponential decay coefficient and t is time. Based on the decay coefficient, leaves were classified as fast (k> 0.01), "medium" (k = ) and "slow" (k <0.005) (Graca et al. 2007). Halving-time was also calculated for each sample: T H = ln2 k -1. Exponential functions fitted on the decomposition data with Origin 8 programme package (Origin Lab Corporation, 2007). The differences between leaf types were examined in the first and second experiment with non parametric Kruskal-Wallis test (n=16 and 9 k-value). In the third experiment, the impact of mesh size and season was analysed with two-sample t-test 3

5 (n=64 and k-value). The impact of temperate on k was tested with Spearman-correlation, the impact on shedder number with quadratic regression. The individual impact analysis (bed type, leaf type) was based on all the experimental data, taking into account that the data from the same experiment are not independent from each other. The impact of bed type, leaf type and mesh size on decomposition was tested with ANOVA and ANCOVA. The impact of lenght of the experiment was analysed with Spearman-correlation. R software was used for the analysis (R Development Core Team, 2011). 4

6 4 RESULTS OF THE STUDIES 4.1 Leaf litter decomposition versus bed morphology At all sampling location the majority of shredder macroinvetebrates belonged to Gammaridae (45-80%). This is the first study in Hungary on the faunistic characteristics of leaf litter decomposition in small midland streams The difference of quantity of shredders on different kinds of leaf litter (Quercus robur, Populus tremula, Salix alba) were not significant (Kruskal-Wallis test for average number of individuals: χ 2 2 < 0.01, p > 0.99, n = 16, relative to the leaf litter mass: χ 2 2 = 2.946, p = 0.229, n = 16) No significant difference was found between the rate of leaf litter decay (k) and the specimen of leaf litter (Kruskal-Wallis test: χ 2 2 = 1.869, p = 0.393, n = 16) Leaf litter decay coefficient (k) was significantly higher in artificial water bodies than in modified or natural stream beds (ANOVA, F 2.21 =13.02, p=0.0002). The k-values in artificial stream beds are higher by 0,0167 ± 0,0035 than in modified beds, the relationship is also significant (p<0.001). k-values of natural stream beds are lower by ± comparing to artificial beds which is also significant (p<0.001) Significant differences were found among the average shredder density and type of stream bed (ANOVA, F 2.21 =6.28, p=0.0073). The average number of shredders was more than two times higher in natural waterbodies (average number of shredders 3.5 dry litter g -1 ) and one and a half times higher in modified bed (average number of shredders 2.6 dry litter g -1 ) than in artifical beds (average number of shredders 1.5 dry litter g -1 ). Number of shredders in modified water bodies were higher by ± individual comparing to artificial beds (p=0.016). Natural stream beds had even higher number of shredders 1,1282 ± 0,3061 (p=0,003). Similar tendency, however not significant, was examined on the quantity of shredders relative to leaf litter mass (ANOVA, F 2.21 =0.400, p=0.675). 4.2 Leaf litter decomposition of three tree species typical for the riparian vegetation Shredders preferred Quercus robur the least than Salix alba while most shredder colonized the leaf litter bags filled with Populus tremula, however the difference cannot be proved statistically as the average number of shredders were not significantly different (Kruskal-Wallis test, χ 2 2=2.17, p=0.337) 5

7 4.2.2 The quantity of shredders relative to leaf litter mass was, however, significantly different among the leaf specimens (Kruskal-Wallis test, χ 2 2=7.2, p=0.027), the lowest quantity was found in Quercus robur while highest in Populus tremula The k-values of the leaf litter species were not significantly different (Kruskal-Wallis test, χ 2 2=1.689, p=0.4298). The leaf litter decay was found to be the closest to the theoretical exponential decay for all litter specimens in Torna stream and for Populus tremula in Csigerepatak, according to the R 2 values of the fitting. 4.3 Leaf litter decomposition versus temperature During both winter and summer, the leaf litter decomposition was measured with two different mesh-size types of litter bags to separate the microbial decomposition from the impact of macroinvertebrates. Leaf litter decomposition was more than two times (2.1 x) faster slower in begs with big mesh-size (2-sample t-test: t = , df=62; p<0.001) The dependence of the number of shredders on the temperature was non-linear: first dropping than increasing with increasing temperature. Possible reason can be that the interim temperature (10-15 o C) covered the spring and autumn periods when the dynamics of the fauna is different. This relationship was proved to be significant by quadratic regression (F 2.29 =5.767, p=0.008) and can be described with the following equation: log(number of shredders) = *temperature *temperature 2. A similar result was found for the average number of shredders relative to leaf litter mass (F 2.29 =7.425, p= , log(shredder * leaf litter mass -1 ) = *temperature *temperature 2 ). The possible reason for the drop can be a significant temporary increase of alternative nutrient resources which drags shredders away from the leaf litter bags until the population in the stream reaches the level when leaf in the litter bags become again attractive The interaction of the mesh-size, temperature and sampling location was also examined (ANCOVA model). According to the results, leaf litter decay significantly depends on both mesh-size and temperature but does not depend on the leaf litter type. In this experiment carried out in two sampling locations of Vázsonyi-séd and Csigere-patak, the leaf litter decay was not significantly different (sampling location is not a main factor), nor the effect of mashsize was different (stream-mash-size interaction is not significant), nor the effect of temperature (stream-temperature interaction is not significant either). 6

8 4.3.4 Significant positive correlation was found between the leaf litter decay and the quantity of shredders relative to leaf litter mass (Spearman-correlation: r=0.414, p=0.018, n=32). This correlation was independent of sampling location and of leaf species Two species were dominant in the leaf litter bags: Gammarus roeselii and G. fossarum. 4.4 Newly introduced tool, leaf litter cylinder and its comparison to existing tools Leaf litter cylinder is a newly developed and introduced tool to measure leaf litter decay. Detailed description of the methodology is aimed to help the reproduction of the experiment and the use of the tool in further experiments Leaf litter cylinder is recommended in lowland streams with temporarily or constantly high level of suspended solids. The mantle of the cylinder protects the leaf litter to be covered by the sediment ensureing undisturbed leaf litter decomposition Leaf litter cylinder is suitable primarily to sutdy decomposition of shredders while it is not applicable for studying microbial decomposition. Macroinvertebrates can easily reach the leaf litter through the two ends of the cylinder which is covered by same net which is used for litter bags. On the other hand, microbes cannot enter the cylinder easily as these tools are floating with the current therefore the mantle of the cylinder hinders them to get attached to the leaf litter The highest number of shredders was measured in leaf litter cylinders comparing to leaf litter bags and boxes. While the cylinder provides a suitable habitat and protection, the circumstances ensure the ecological needs of shredders (ie. current of fresh water) In the different tools the highest number of species was measured for active-filterers then collectors and predator species, latter two having no direct impact of leaf litter decomposition. The quantity of collectors and predators was negligible comparing to shredders. This shows that in the fauna in the cylinder is in-line with the faunistic composition and stock in the stream according as shown by proportional quantities. 4.5 Investigations on the early stages of leaf litter decay In short term (40 days) measurements, leaf litter decay fitted well to the exponential decay model for all species of leaf litter and all types of leaf litter bags. This is a result of more frequent sampling and less probability of some major disturbance (ie. floods or freezing). 7

9 4.5.2 Comparing experiments of different length, the k-values were found to be significantly lower for longer series though theoretical expectations suppose exponential decay is independent of the length of the experiment. Possible explanation is that the quality of leaf litter is changing (decreasing) over time, and in the late phases of decay the remaining parts are harder to be decomposed and also less attractive to shredders. 8

10 5 REFERENCES Abelho M. (2001) From litterfall to breakdown in streams: a review. The Scientific World Journal 1: AQEM Consortium (2002) Manual for the application of the AQEM system. A comprehensive method to assess European streams using benthic macroinvertebrates, developed for the purpose of the Water Framework Directive. Version 1.0. Bilby R. E. & Ward J. W. (1991) Characteristics and function of large woody debris in streams draining old-growth, clearcut, and second-growth forests in southwestern Washington. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 48: Brooks S. S., Palmer M. A., Cardinale B. J., Swan C. M., Ribblett S. (2002) Assessing stream ecosystem rehabilitation: Limitation of community structure data. Restoration Ecology 10: Bunn S. E. (1995) Biological monitoring of water quality in Australia: Workshop summary and future directions. Australian Journal of Ecology, 20: Cuffney T. F., Wallace J. B., Lugthart G. J. (1990) Experimental evidence quantifying the role of benthic invertebrates in organic matter dynamics of headwater streams. Freshwater Biology 23: Cummins K. W., Wilzbach M. A., Gates D. M., Perry J. B., Taliaferro W. B. (1989) Shredders and riparian vegetation: leaf litter that falls into streams influence communities of stream invertebrates. BioScience 39: Fisher S. G. & Likens G. E. (1973) Energy flow in Bear Brook, New Hampshire: an integrative approach to stream ecosystem metabolism. Ecological Monographs 43: Gessner M. O. & Chauvet, E. (2002) A case for using litter breakdown to assess functional stream integrity. Ecological Applications, 12, Gessner M. O., Bärlocher F., Chauvet E. (2003) Qualitative and quantitative analyses of aquatic hypomycetes in streams. In Tsui, C. K., K. D. Hyde, eds., Freshwater Mycology. Koeltz Scientific Books, Koenigstein, Germany: Giller P. S. (1998) In Malmqvist, Bjorn (ed.), The Biology of Streams and Rivers. Oxford University Press, New York, 37 41; Golladay S. W., Webster J. R., Benfield E. F. (1987) Changes in stream morphology and storm transport of seston following watershed disturbance. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 6: Graça M. A. S., Bärlocher F., Gessner M. O. (2007) Methods to Study Litter Decomposition: A Practical Guide

11 Hax C. L. & Golladay S. W. (1998) Flow disturbance of macroinvertebrates inhabiting sediments and woody debris in a prairie stream. American Midland Naturalist 139: Kedzierski W. M. & Smock L. A. (2001) Effects of logging on macroinvertebrate production in a sand-bottomed, lowgradient stream. Freshwater Biology 46: Minshall G. W. (1996) Organic Matter Budgets. In Hauer, F. R., Lambert F. A. (eds), Methods in Steam Ecology. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, Origin Lab Corporation (2007) OriginPro SR0 v B(724), R Development Core Team (2011) R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. URL: Smock L. A., Metzler G. M., Gladden J. E. (1989) Role of debris dams in the structure and functioning of low-gradient headwater streams. Ecology 70: Steward B. S., Davies B. R. (1989) The influence of different litter bag design ont he breakdown of leaf material in a small mountain stream. Hydrobiologia, 183: Vannote R. L., Minshall G. W., Cummins K. W., Sedell J. R., Cushing C. E. (1980) The river continuum concept. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 37: Wallace J. B., Eggert S. L., Meyer J. L., Webster J. R Multiple trophic levels of a forest stream linked to terrestrial litter inputs. Science, 277: Webster J. R. & Benfield E. F. (1986) Vascular plant breakdown in freshwater ecosystems. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 17:

12 6 PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS Publications Kovács K. (2005) A Gammarus roeselii alakkörének vizsgálata a Pécsely-patakban. Hidrológiai Közlöny 85: Kovács K, Stenger-Kovács C., Padisák, J. (2008) A tározás, mint hidromorfológiai módosítás hatásának vizsgálata a víztest vízkémiai paramétereinek és bevonatának kovaalga összetétele alapján. Hidrológiai Közlöny 89: Abonyi A., Krasznai E., Kovács K., Padisák J. (2008) Az édesvízi medúza (Craspedacusta sowerbii Lankster, 1880) magyarországi előfordulása. Folia Musei Historico-Naturalis Bakonyiensis, A Bakonyi Természettudományi Múzeum Közleményei 25: Hubai K., Kovács K., Padisák, J. (2008) Balaton-felvidéki időszakos tavacskák fizikai és kémiai paramétereinek vizsgálata, természetvédelmi értéke. Hidrológiai Közlöny 89: Abdel-Hameid N.-A., Kováts N., Kovács K., Ács A., Paulovits G. (2010) Toxicitási tesztek adaptálása hazai kagylófajokra. Acta Biologica Debrecina, Supplementum Oecologica Hungarica Fasc. 21: Pék A. S., Selmeczy G. B., Balassa M., Padisák J., Kovács K. (2010) Egy dombvidéki patak szakasz ökológiai állapotbecslése különböző módszerekkel. Acta Biologica Debrecina, Supplementum Oecologica Hungarica Fasc. 21: Üveges V., Andirkó V., Ács A., Bíró R., Drávecz E., Hajnal É., Havasi M., Hubai K. E., Kacsala I., Kovács K., Kováts N., Kucserka T., Lengyel E., Matulka A., Selmeczy G. B., Stenger-Kovács Cs., Szabó B., Teke G., Vass M., Padisák J. (2011) A vörösiszap katasztrófa hatása a Torna patak és a Marcal élővilágára, a regeneráció első időszaka. Economica, IV. 12: Juhász P., Kovács K., Szabó T., Csipkés R., Kiss B., Müller Z. (2006) Faunistical results of the Malacostraca investigations carried out in the frames of the ecological survey of the surface waters of Hungary (ECOSURV) in Folia Historico, Naturalia Musei Matraensis 30: Papp J., Kovács K., Kontschán J. (2008) Asellota and Amphipoda species from Maramures (Crustacea:: Malacostraca). Studia Universitatis Vasile Goldis, Life Sciences Series, vol. 18, Suppl. 2008: Várkuti A., Kovács K., Stenger-Kovács C., Padisák J. (2008) Environment consciousness of permanent inhabitants in shoreline cities and villages of Lake Balaton with special attention to issues connected to global climate change. Hydrobiologia, 599: IF: 1,201 Kováts N., Abdel-Hameid N-A., Kovács K., Paulovits G. (2010) Sensitivity of three unionid glochidia to elevated levels of copper, zinc and lead. Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, 399, 04. DOI: /kmae/ IF: Kovács K., Selmeczy G. B., Kucserka T., Abdel-Hameid N-A. H., Padisák J. (2011) The effect of stream bed morphology on shredders abundance and leaf-litter decomposition in Hungarian midland streams. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies Vol. 20, No IF: 0,543 Kováts N., Abdel-Hameid N.-A., Kovács K., Padisák J. (2011) Evaluation of single and interactive toxicities of lead and iron using filtration rate of Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha). Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics, Submitted Vass M., Kucserka T., Hubai K., Üveges V., Kovács K., Padisák J. (2011) Ingoldian fungi: survivors or the first colonizers? the Torna stream after th ered sludge disaster in Hungary. International Review of Hydrobiology, Submitted Kucserka T., Kovács K., Vass M., Selmeczy G. B., Hubai K., Üveges V., Kacsala I., Törő N., Padisák J. (2011) Leaf litter decomposition in Hungarian midland streams before and after th ered sludge disaster. International Review of Hydrobiology, Submitted Kovács K., Kacsala I., Selmeczy G. B., Kucserka T., Vass M., Törő N., Padisák J. (2011) Leaf litter cylinder: introduction and comparison with commonly used methods. International Review of Hydrobiology, Submitted Presentations Kovács K.: A Gammarus roeseli alakkörének vizsgálata a Pécsely-patakban. XLVI. Hidrobiológus Napok, Tihany október 2-4. Presentation Kovács K., Juhász P., Kovács T., Ambrus A.: Néhány hazai folyóvíz típus ökológiai állapota a puhatestűek (Bivalvia, Gastropoda) mint indikátorcsoport alapján. 2. Kvantitatív Ökológiai Szimpózium (KöSzi). Veszprém, április 18. Presentation 11

13 Kontschán J., Kovács K.: Egy kárpát-medencei endemikus vízi ászka, avagy ismertek a Proasellus pribenicensis Flasarova, 1977 fajról (Crustacea: Isopoda: Asellota). III. Magyar Természetvédelmi Biológiai Konferencia, Eger november 3-6. Program és Absztrakt kötet: 138 o. Poster Kovács K., Selmeczy G., Padisák, J., Juhász P., Kiss, B., Müller Z.: Morphological variations of Gammarus roeselii in Hungarian steams. XIII th International Colloquium on Amphipoda, Tihany, Hungary, May 2007., Abstracts: page 25. Poster Kovács K., Selmeczy G., Juhász P., Kiss B., Müller Z., Padisák J.: Az ECOSURV mintákban fellelt Gammarus roeselii alaki változatosságainak elemzése, V. MaViGe Makroszkopikus Vízi Gerinctelenek Kutatási Konferencia programja, április , Nyíregyháza, Program és Absztrakt kötet: 24. o. Poster Kovács K., Szélesné F. E.: Cluster-analízis alkalmazásainak lehetősége a szociometriában és ennek bemutatása egyetemi évfolyamokban. Tanárképzés Napja, április 23. Veszprém. Presentation Kovács K., Stenger-Kovács Cs., Padisák J.: A tározás, mint hidromorfológiai módosítás hatásának vizsgálata a víztest vízkémiai paramétereinek és bevonatának kovaalga összetétele alapján. L. Hidrobiológus Napok, Tihany, okt.1-3. Presentation K. Kovács: Cluster-analysis Method in Sociometry and Its Application on University Classes. 7 th International Students Research Conference, Riga, május Presentation K. Kovács, Várkuti A., Stenger-Kovács Cs., Padisák J.: Environmental Awareness of Permanent Inhabitants on the Shore of Lake Balaton. 7 th International Students Research Conference, Riga, május Poster Kovács K.: Avarlebontási kísérletek kisvízfolyásokban. VI. MaViGe VI. Makroszkopikus Víz Gerinctelenek Kutatási Konferencia Villány, április Program és Absztrakt kötet: 34. o. Poster Balassa M., Lengyel E., Kovács K., Stenger-Kovács Cs., Padisák J.: Egy kisvízfolyás legelő makroszkopikus vízi gerinctelen fajainak hatása a perifiton biomasszájára és a bentikus kovaalga közösség összetételére. VII. MaViGe VII. Makroszkopikus Víz Gerinctelenek Kutatási Konferencia Sümeg, április Absztrakt: Program és összefoglaló kötet, 13. o. Poster Pék A. Sz., Selmeczy G. B., Balassa M., Padisák J., Kovács Kata: Egy dombvidéki patak szakasz ökológiai állapotbecslése különböző módszerekkel. VII. MaViGe VII. Makroszkopikus Víz Gerinctelenek Kutatási Konferencia Sümeg, április Absztarkt: Program és összefoglaló kötet, 37. o. Poster Selmeczy G. B., Pék A. Sz., Kovács K., Padisák J.: Két dombvidéki kisvízfolyás avarlebontása aprító makrogerinctelenek által nyári aspektusban. VII. MaViGe VII. Makroszkopikus Víz Gerinctelenek Kutatási Konferencia Sümeg, április Absztrakt: Program és összefoglaló kötet, 39. o. Poster Drávecz E. & Kovács K.: A Csigere-patak Coleoptera és Trichoptera faunájának felmérése. VII. MaViGe VII. Makroszkopikus Víz Gerinctelenek Kutatási Konferencia Sümeg, április Absztrakt: Program és összefoglaló kötet, 23. o. Poster Abdel-Hameid N. A., Kováts N., Kovács K., Ács A., Paulovits G.: Toxicitási tesztek adaptálása hazai kagylófajokra. VII. MaViGe VII. Makroszkopikus Víz Gerinctelenek Kutatási Konferencia Sümeg, április Absztrakt: Program és összefoglaló kötet, 13. o. Poster Kovács K., Selmeczy G. B., Kucserka T., Padisák J.: Természetes és módosított patakszakaszok avarbontási rátájának különbözősége. VII. MaViGe VII. Makroszkopikus Víz Gerinctelenek Kutatási Konferencia Sümeg, április Absztrakt: Program és összefoglaló kötet, 28. old. Presentation Selmeczy G. B., Kucserka T., Kacsala I., Padisák J., Kovács K.: Avarlebontási kísérletek dombvidéki kisvízfolyásokon. LII. Hidrobiológus Napok, Tihany, október 6-8. Poster Kovács K., Kucserka T., Selmeczy G. B., Padisák Judit: Makroélet az iszapár után a Torna-patakban és a Marcal folyóban. 6. Téli Ásványtudományi Iskola, Balatonfüred, január Presentation Hubai K., Kovács K., Kucserka T., Padisák J., Selmeczy G. B., Üveges V.: A felszíni vizek terhelése rövid és hosszabb távon. Vörösiszap katasztrófa: következmények és tapasztalatok című konferencia, Magyar Tudományos Akadémia és a Belügyminisztérium Országos Katasztrófavédelmi Főigazgatóság szervezésében, március 1. Presentation Kovács K., Poór Z., Csizmadia K.: A veszprémi Kittenberger Kálmán Növény-, és Vadasparkban folyó környezeti nevelés óvodától az egyetemig. "Az erdőpedagógiától a környezetpedagógiáig" c. nemzetközi konferencia, Győr, április 1-2. (Szervező: Nyugat-magyarországi Egyetem Apáczai Csere János Kar Neveléstudományi Intézete, a NYME Erdőmérnöki Kara és a Selye János Egyetem) Poster Drávecz E., Balassa M., Selemczy G. B., Kucserka T., Padisák J., Kovács K.: Torna-patak állapota az iszapkatasztrófa előtt és után a mederjellemzők és a fauna szempontjából Devecsernél. VIII. MaViGe 12

14 VIII. Makroszkopikus Víz Gerinctelenek Kutatási Konferencia Jósvafő, április (Absztrakt: Program és összefoglaló kötet, 23. old.) Poster Kacsala I., Selmeczy G. B., Kucserka T., Kovács K.: Kisvízfolyások avarbontó képességének vizsgálati módszereinek összehasonlítása. VIII. MaViGe VIII. Makroszkopikus Víz Gerinctelenek Kutatási Konferencia Jósvafő, április (Absztrakt: Program és összefoglaló kötet, 30. old.) Poster Kovács K., Selmeczy G. B., Drávecz E., Kucserka T., Üveges V., Padisák Judit: A Torna-patak és a Marcal makrogerinctelen faunája az iszapkatasztrófa után. VIII. MaViGe VIII. Makroszkopikus Víz Gerinctelenek Kutatási Konferencia Jósvafő, április (Absztrakt: Program és összefoglaló kötet, 33. old.) Presentation Kucserka T., Kovács K., Vass M., Selmeczy G. B, Hubai K. E., Üveges V., Kacsala I., Törő N., Padisák J.: Leaf litter decomposition in Torna-stream before and after a red sludge disaster. 6 th International Meeting on Plant Litter Processing in Freshwaters July 26-30, 2011, Cracow, Poland (Absztakt: 44. old.) Poster Vass M., Révay A., Kucserka T., Hubai K. E., Üveges V., Kovács K., Padisák Judit: Ingoldian fungi as survivors and/or first colonizers after a red sludge disaster in the Torna stream, Hungary. 6 th International Meeting on Plant Litter Processing in Freshwaters July 26-30, 2011, Cracow, Poland (Absztrakt 63. old.) Poster Kovács K., Kacsala I., Selmeczy G. B., Kucserkat T., Vass M., Törő N., Padisák J.: Leaf litter cylinder: introduction and comparison with commonly used methods. 6 th International Meeting on Plant Litter Processing in Freshwaters July 26-30, 2011, Cracow, Poland (Absztrakt 35. old.) Presentation Kováts N., Abdel-Hameid N.-A., Kovács K., Padisák, J.: Evaluation of single and interactive toxicities of lead and iron using filtration rate of Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha). First International Conference of Lake Sustainability, Sept , 2011, New Forest, UK, (Abstract 37. o.) Presentation Kovács K., Kováts N., Ferincz Á.: Édesvízi kagylófaj (Sinanadonta woodiana) glochidiumának érékenysége rézre (Cu). EuLakes Országok Konferencia, , Veszprém (Absztrakt: 11. o). Presentation 13