Modelling Microbial Utilisation of Macrophyte Organic Matter Inputs to Rivers under Different Flow Conditions

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The timing and composition of organic matter (OM) inputs to rivers are important as carbon plays a major role in river functioning. Management of Australian rivers since European settlement has altered inputs of organic matter to these systems. Heterotrophic microbes play a critical role in the transformation of OM in rivers, allowing transfer of carbon to other biota. Alteration to the proportions of OM from different sources affects microbial functioning due to differences in OM composition. Macrophytes can represent important sources of carbon to rivers, however their inputs and in-stream processing are poorly understood. The aim of my study was to examine inputs and microbial processing of macrophyte OM in Australian lowland rivers under different flows. macrophytes often constitute a major fraction of the organic matter produced in freshwater wetlands and littoral zones of lakes (Wetzel and Howe, 1999).

"… the fate of vascular plant detritus represents an important component in understanding energy flow and nutrient cycling within [aquatic] ecosystems.” (Kuehn et al. 1999)