Allochthonous coarse particulate organic material in forest and pasture reaches of two south‐eastern Australian streams

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Abstract
SUMMARY: 1. Processing of five species of terrestrial leaves was compared in two summers and two winters at forest and pasture sites in each of two south‐eastern Australian streams, using leaf packs fastened with plastic buttoneers and anchored to capping bricks.2. Soluble carbohydrate and polyphenolics were rapidly lost from the leaves, mostly within 2 days. Total phosphorus and lipid contents remained constant, and nitrogen increased by about 50% over the period to 50% of leaf weight lost.3. Processing rates, expressed in terms of the negative exponential decay coefficient varied widely for each leaf species, but the rank ordering was consistent withPomaderris asperaandEucalyptus; viminalisprocessed at similar, rapid rates followed byCorrect lawrentiana, Acacia melanoxylonandBlechnum nudum. Abscissed leaves were processed more slowly than fresh leaves.4. Processing rates were significantly (P < 0.05) different between the two streams, and between leaf species, but there were no consistent differences between processing rates in winter and summer or between forest and pasture sites.5. When decay coefficients were calculated on a degree day basis,Eucalyptus viminalisleaves were processed significantly faster (PPomaderris asperaleaves were processed significantly more rapidly in winter than summer (PAcacia melanoxylonphyllodes were not significantly different between the two seasons