Toward A Model of Detritus Processing in a Woodland Stream

Abstract

A state—space model for the microbial and abiotic decomposition of detritus in a temperate zone woodland stream is developed. Detritus, defined as nonliving, particulate organic matter and its associated microbial populations, is classified according to particle size and extent of microbial colonization as reflected by community respiration. These categories form a matrix whose entries are detrital biomass; detritus processing in the stream is simulated using transition functions to move biomass through the categories. The model can be coupled to population models of stream invertebrates via removal of detritus from the matrix for detritivore feeding. Simulation results are presented and compared with field data.