Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

PC12 Trophic Dynamic Studies

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001

Location: Southwest Hall

Tibbets, T, M, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA, ttibbets@sevilleta.unm.edu

Molles, M, C, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA, molles@sevilleta.unm.edu

USING ECOLOGICAL STOICHIOMETRY AND STABLE ISOTOPES TO CHARACTERIZE RIPARIAN FOODWEBS OF THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE, NEW MEXICO

The Middle Rio Grande in central New Mexico is characterized by increasing isolation from its historical riparian forest due to increased water demand and flow regulation. We are focusing on nutrient dynamics and resource-consumer relationships in non-flooded vs. flooded areas of the riparian corridor to investigate how isolation of the Rio Grande from its riparian floodplain affects ecosystem structure and function. We will determine the C/nutrient ratios and stable isotope content of leaves from Rio Grande cottonwood (Populus deltoides ssp. wislizenii) and dominant invertebrate consumers at eight study sites along the Middle Rio Grande to determine possible differences in food web dynamics. C/N ratios for cottonwood leaves at twelve sites along the Rio Grande ranged from 16-31 with a mean of 23. C/P ratios ranged from 140-609 with a mean of 395 and N/P ratios ranged from 6-25 with a mean of 17. We plan to test whether elemental stoichiometic and stable isotope analyses that have been successfully applied to pelagic food webs can improve our understanding of food webs in riparian forests.

Return to This Session's Schedule · Complete Session Listing ·

Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

Quicklinks